A Blooming VP initiative for Obama?
posted at 11:50 am on March 27, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has put himself back in the presidential race with an unusual announcement today. The multibillionaire mayor had toyed with an independent run for the presidency himself, but decided against it in February. Both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have sought his endorsement ever since — and Obama may have won the Bloomberg sweepstakes:
Mayor Bloomberg made a surprise announcement last night that he will introduce Barack Obama when the Illinois senator makes a campaign speech today at Cooper Union.
The mayor’s office took the highly unusual step of releasing information about the event late last night. Obama will deliver an address on economic issues.
Their joint appearance on Hillary Rodham Clinton’s home turf could provide a boost for Obama in the tightly contested race for the Democratic presidential nomination.
The introduction will fuel endorsement rumors — and more. Obama will need a dynamic, experienced executive as his running mate to convince general-election voters of his substance and ability. Bloomberg has made no secret of his ambitions, and having put aside the presidency, may see a VP run as an entree to something bigger down the road. He could wind up being the economics guru of an Obama administration — and he could potentially keep Hillary voters from defecting to McCain.
Bloomberg understands business and politics. His endorsement will come with a price. Whether that price involves policy preferences or something more personal remains to be seen. However, the big buildup to today’s event gives a strong indication that a deal of one kind or another has either been made or is close enough.
That will undoubtedly worry Hillary Clinton. New York has already had its primary, so the votes make no difference now. Bloomberg appeals to the same moderates she hopes to reach, though, and if he aligns himself with Obama, it will almost certainly end any appeal she has to the superdelegates. The Democratic establishment will take one look at Bloomberg’s deep pockets and fall in love with n Obama/Bloomberg ticket.
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If McCain were to go with Romney, that’d be quite an interesting matchup against Obama/Bloomberg. This is going to be an exciting year :)
Sir Loin on March 27, 2008 at 11:55 AM
could Obama be trying to stop this bloodshed on Dem side early by saying Bloomberg is his VP choice?
jp on March 27, 2008 at 11:57 AM
Et tu, Michael?
Darth Executor on March 27, 2008 at 11:57 AM
Bloomberg points whichever way he thinks the wind is blowing. Big deal!
TooTall on March 27, 2008 at 11:59 AM
Would Obama really wanted to be associated with new york politics at this point though?
lorien1973 on March 27, 2008 at 12:01 PM
wonder what the minister of ATLAH in Harlem thinks about this?
jp on March 27, 2008 at 12:03 PM
McCain better pick a VP with impeccable economic creds if the Dims go this route. Romney? maybe…there are lot of options but few have name ID which the dems get with bloomberg.
jp on March 27, 2008 at 12:04 PM
For all his business success he’s still a liberal who would kill the economy with carbon taxes.
Between him and McCain, we’re doomed unless we can get a Republican congress to prevent this sort of legislation from proceeding.
Buy Danish on March 27, 2008 at 12:06 PM
McCain/Forbes?
amerpundit on March 27, 2008 at 12:06 PM
John McCain/Jim Cramer….no just kidding.
Hummer53 on March 27, 2008 at 12:08 PM
A ticket that looks like America!
Akzed on March 27, 2008 at 12:08 PM
Gag me. The Mayor-who-shall-not-be-named has been getting no traction in the news. I’d like to keep it that way.
He has no personal convictions other than to make money. First a Dem, then a Repub, now Indy.
Connie on March 27, 2008 at 12:09 PM
I loved Steve Forbes back in 1996. Flat tax baby!
kcluva on March 27, 2008 at 12:10 PM
A ticket that looks like America!
No kidding? Bloomberg is a Native American/Hispanic/Asian/Sikh/Female?
My apologies to anyone not included.
Bishop on March 27, 2008 at 12:11 PM
Wait wait wait – did you hear that sermon? Atlah IS Harlem. It’s the new name for it that God gave to “Rev.” Manning. No really.
Akzed on March 27, 2008 at 12:12 PM
This is a good move for Barry. It takes Herself’s so-called ‘Home State’ (especially the Hasidic and Puerto Rican communities) out of play while simultaneously buying Barry some much needed executive experience. The big question is: How will a Vice-President Bloomberg influence the economy and Wall Street?
SeniorD on March 27, 2008 at 12:13 PM
I hope Obama doesn’t lite-up in that bar. Nanny Bloomberg will have his arrested.
TheBigOldDog on March 27, 2008 at 12:18 PM
Obama will need a dynamic, experienced
executiveJew as his running mate to convincegeneral-electionJewish votersof his substance and ability.he’s not antisemitic like his Pastor and Mentor.Fixed it for ya Ed.
TheBigOldDog on March 27, 2008 at 12:24 PM
Has Bloomberg figured out what he is yet . . . he changes his political orientation more than he changes his socks.
rplat on March 27, 2008 at 12:27 PM
I’m not so sure this will siphon Hillary voters. The blue collar crowd that won for her in Ohio and should carry her in PA don’t seem to be the kinds of “moderates” that form Bloomberg’s constituency.
Plus, if Obama doesn’t pick a running mate that has the honorific “General” in front of his name, he’ll lose in the general.
Dudley Smith on March 27, 2008 at 12:35 PM
But WAIT! Bloomberg was a Republican 10 minutes ago! Right? Pffft. These guys are all tools.
Sugar Land on March 27, 2008 at 12:53 PM
It’s NY. All the pols. are social libs. So if you want a job and there’s already somebody in the office, you run as the opposite party. There’s no difference btwn the two.
Bloomberg/Giuliani etc. can run as conserv.dems or lib.republicans. Who knows, Giuliani may have become Pres. if he ran as a Democrat.
JiangxiDad on March 27, 2008 at 1:03 PM
Eddy, you know how to stir the “pot”!
That cold, clean, sharp air in Minnesota makes a difference!
J_Gocht on March 27, 2008 at 1:08 PM
I have a different take on this.
I think that Bloomberg needs to found a third party in the next month or two in order to run as VP on a third-party ticket with whoever loses the Dem nomination. Quite a few states may have early ballot petition filing deadlines.
Bloomberg may already understand all this, but, if not, then he needs to be made to understand that, as VP and campaign bankroller, he would be well positioned indeed to help and influence whichever Dem to be a fantastically! better President than she or he might otherwise be. Surely Bloomberg can and will understand that and how vital an opportunity there is now! And Bloomberg of course will already understand also it is only through a third-party ticket that he could do it, since the Dems will not nominate a recent Republican for VP. Never happen! So this is the only course for Bloomberg in order to fulfill his noble aim to serve our great nation. The Denver convention need be nothing more than a pit stop, a speed bump, a flyspeck on the windshield. And won’t that be a relief to the Dem delegates!
I’ve been pushing this meme for a week. And Bloomberg is meeting with Obama today, so time may be growing short or — on the other hand maybe Bloomberg has already thought of it! (Well of course he’s already thought of it, but seriously to contemplate it, that’s something more.)
ForNow on March 27, 2008 at 1:10 PM
I hope that’s the ticket.
Barry carries New York anyway. And I don’t think anyone anywhere else in the country’s going to have much use for Bloomberg at all. It’s certainly been true for all of my lifetime that the media tends to give a lot more weight to politicians from new York than anyone anywhere in the rest of the country.
A lot better him than Strickland.
Typhoon on March 27, 2008 at 1:13 PM
Obama Bloomberg would be a pretty compelling ticket for American centrists who are the big majority being targeted by both parties in this election.
lexhamfox on March 27, 2008 at 1:17 PM
If you think Obama’s gonna get his ass handed to him here in PA in April now, November will be twice as brutal for him in PA if he chooses gun-grabbin’ Nanny Bloomberg for his VP.
doubleplusundead on March 27, 2008 at 1:25 PM
One loser plus one loser still equals two losers.
GarandFan on March 27, 2008 at 1:47 PM
Me thinks it is going to take quite a bit more than that….
Seven Percent Solution on March 27, 2008 at 1:47 PM
I can think of quite a few adjectives for this presidential race; “exciting” isn’t one of them.
Nichevo on March 27, 2008 at 2:46 PM
Has there ever been any recent evidence that an endorsement on the campaign trail changed the views of the Presidential nominee and eventual President elect?
Nonfactor on March 27, 2008 at 3:28 PM
Entelechy on March 27, 2008 at 5:32 PM
New quote from James Carville:
Mr.
Richardson’sBloomberg’s endorsement came right around the anniversary of the day when Judas sold out for 30 pieces of silver, so I think the timing is appropriate, if ironic,” Carville said.slp on March 27, 2008 at 6:40 PM
When the next strong conservative candidate comes,, and there will be another strong national conservative leader arise within the next few years,,, it will be like a downpour on parched ground! I predict,, there will be such a conservative sweep across this nation it will make the Reagan Revolution pale in comparison.
JellyToast on March 27, 2008 at 8:08 PM
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