NYC Mayor Bloomberg Can't Squelch Rumors of WH Bid as Independent

NYT/Reuters: NYC Mayor Can't Squelch Rumors of White House Bid
By REUTERS
Published: June 18, 2006

NEW YORK (Reuters) - When billionaire Michael Bloomberg became New York mayor shortly after the September 11 attacks, some mocked his dullness and lack of political savvy.

Now the Republican mayor of America's most populous city doesn't understand why he can't quell talk he wants to be president....

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Since taking office in early 2002, Bloomberg -- a longtime Democrat who switched parties in 2001 to run in the less-crowded Republican field -- has honed his political street smarts and built a niche as a social liberal and fiscal conservative.

Following a landslide re-election win last November, the 64-year-old Bloomberg has been increasingly speaking out on national issues and become one of America's most prominent mayors, fending off more and more questions about a White House bid.

Such talk reached new heights this week after Bloomberg, ranked by Forbes magazine as the 112th richest billionaire worth $5.1 billion, playfully entertained the idea of running as an independent....

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/news/news-bloomberg.html

He would definately take votes from the Republicans.

and if the democratic party doesn't address that head-on, they may have to do it in front of the shotgun, in the voting booth.

people are desperate for a third choice.

I can see Bloomberg getting more votes than a weak Dem candidate like Feingold or Warner. This guy Bloomberg would be deadly with suburban women.

A Jewish, divorced, "socially moderate" Repuke, running as an Independent. A man who used the NYC police to violate every right he could get away with, of the protesters during the Repuke convention.....? and denied every permit he could to war protestors?
I don't think so.