Billionaire and CEO of Bloomberg L.P., Michael Bloomberg has instructed aides to draw up plans for an independent run for president, according to a person familiar with the mayor’s deliberations.
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The New York Times first reported news of Bloomberg’s potential campaign.
Bloomberg feels he’d need to get in by March, the New York Times reported.
Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Jazz at Lincoln According to the Times, Bloomberg has already commissioned one poll to determine his fate against both Trump and Clinton – with another sampling slated after the February 9 New Hampshire primary.
A well-financed presidential run by Bloomberg would likely disrupt the dynamics of the election, but the billionaire would face significant hurdles in a race that has been in full swing for almost a year. Those efforts include research into state-specific rules on how to appear on presidential ballots and a “detailed study of past third-party bids”, the report says. In 2009, Bloomberg won his third and final term as mayor of the nation’s largest city.
Bloomberg told NBC News’ Chuck Todd in October that he was “very flattered” people would ask him about running for president, but he didn’t tip his hand on a decision. Bernie Sanders, a democratic socialist who Bloomberg considers not to have a viable chance, or a severely weakened former secretary of state Hillary Clinton.
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Bloomberg, who served as NY mayor for a record 12 years until January 2014, is remembered for his aggressive public health policies, like banning smoking in bars and restaurants, and limiting consumption of sugary drinks.
