NYC Mayor Considers Spending $1-Billion of Own Money!
He says he's not "planning" to run for President, but evidently he's preparing just the same.
With a personal wealth estimated at $5.5-billion, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is rounding up those who pieced-together Ross Perot's third-party run for President, reports the Washington Times, outlining how behind-the scenes arrangements are underway so all will be ready if Bloomberg decides to go for it--with plans to use $1-billion of his own money.
That means major advantages for Bloomberg:
=No time spent raising money,
=So he can wait months before declaring.
=He can brag he's not beholden to any donors or special interests (a major appeal to disenchanted voters).
=His wealth lets him massively outspend all of the other candidates combined, and
=Without having to compete for a party nomination.
The wealthiest of the other candidates, Mitt Romney, may have personal wealth of around $250-million--less than 5% of Bloomberg's $5.5-billion+ fortune. Depending on when he starts, a $1-billion Bloomberg commitment would let him spend $2-to-3-million each day between now and November 2008.
Bloomberg's well-paid advisers obviously are stressing how the other GOP contenders haven't caught fire. But Bloomberg isn't the hero that conservative voters are looking for: he's very much a social liberal, regardless of what he might promise on fiscal issues. Because he would bypass the primaries by running as an independent/third-party, he will disregard the GOP's social conservatives, threatening to split the GOP base.
What a New York City soap opera! Hillary vs. Rudy vs. Bloomberg!?
aWall Street Journal analyze's Bloomberg's potential.
aWashington Times reports Bloomberg is laying the groundwork to run.
aForbes ranks Bloomberg as the 34th richest person in America. (Ross Perot is #40.)
aThe company website behind his wealth: www.bloomberg.com
