A Bloomberg presidential bid? Candidates give mixed reviews

Luke Skywalker · Jan 24, 2016

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[h=4]A Bloomberg presidential bid? Candidates give mixed reviews[/h]Former New York mayor is said to be considering an independent bid

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The former mayor of New York City could be gauging his odds as an independent candidate this election, according to The New York Times. Newslook

As aides to Michael Bloomberg put out signals about a possible independent presidential bid, existing candidates are giving the former New York mayor mixed reviews.
Republican front-runner Donald Trump told CBS' Face The Nation that*Bloomberg "might very well get in the race," and he would "love" the prospect.

Michael Bloomberg*(Photo: EPA)

Bloomberg is Trump's opposite "with guns and he's opposite on pro-life and he's opposite on a lot of things," the New York businessman*said. "So*I would love to have Michael get in the race. *But I don't know if he's going to do it, but I hope he does."
Marco Rubio, meanwhile, said he hasn't even thought about the possible impact of a Bloomberg presidential bid.
"I'll wait until he becomes a candidate," the Florida senator*told Fox News Sunday.
The New York Times reported this weekend that Bloomberg has instructed aides to develop plans for a possible independent bid, saying the ex-mayor is "galled by Donald J. Trump’s dominance of the Republican field, and troubled by Hillary Clinton’s stumbles and the rise of Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont on the Democratic side."
Sanders, speaking on NBC's Meet The Press, said that a Trump nomination and*a Bloomberg entry would benefit him because it would mean "two multi-billionaires running for president of the United States against me. And I think the American people do not want to see our nation move toward an oligarchy where billionaires control the political process. I think we'll win that election."
Clinton, also on NBC, said her understanding is that Bloomberg won't get in*she wins the Democratic nomination. "Well," she said, "I'm going to relieve him of that and get the nomination,*so he doesn't have to."
At least one Democratic analyst said a Bloomberg candidacy could tip the*election to the Republicans. Dan Pfeiffer, a former aide to President Obama, said Bloomberg could carry enough states to deny any candidate the 270 electoral votes needed to win.
In that case, "GOP congress picks the prez," Pfeiffer tweeted.
Some of the Republican presidential candidates questioned just how strong a candidate Bloomberg might be.
"Another liberal billionaire from NYC?" tweeted Rand Paul, the Kentucky senator and a fierce*critic of Trump. "I think that slot is taken."
Ohio Gov. John Kasich told reporters he would welcome a Bloomberg candidacy, saying that "maybe*we could have a more serious debate instead of, you know, some of the things we see."
Others questioned whether Bloomberg would actually take the plunge.
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, speaking on ABC's This Week, said doesn't think Bloomberg will get into the race unless Trump and Sanders somehow win their party's nominations. "But that's way off into the future," Bush said.
Bush Communications Director*Tim Miller, on Twitter, mocked all the questions over Bloomberg so close to the Iowa caucuses on Feb. 1.
Tweeted Miller: "1 week before voting starts and Sunday shows obsess over 90th Bloomberg trial balloon."
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A Bloomberg presidential bid? Candidates give mixed reviews

Luke Skywalker

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