Could Bloomberg have his eye on Albany rather than Washington...

[SaveElmer]

The Siena College poll today that had Bloomberg only 2 back of Spitzer in a 2010 hypothetical matchup for Governor of New York got me to thinking...

Could Bloomberg's Indie turn be the first step toward a race for that office....

With the New York Republican Party in a shambles turning Indie would be a smart move. Plus his constant denials that he is running for President...got me to thinking he may be trying for Governor instead..

A much more achievable goal...

[BeyondGeography]

1. Going up against Spitzer in 2010...I don't think so

He might win but then he'd be stuck playing footsie with Silver and Bruno in the most dysfunctional sandbox in American state politics. Watching what a hard time Spitzer is having with those two can hardly be appetizing for Bloomberg. The only way out is to stack the legislature in your favor which is a long, hard slog...If Spitzer can't do it, hard to see how Bloomberg would pull it off, or even be barely excited about the prospect.

[napi21]

2. I doubt it. 08 is a long way off, 10 is WAY too far off to matter to him.

I haven't been able to determine if he's really interested in running for Prez, or if he just wants to stir the pot and draw attention to himself. After all, so far he hasn't spent any money on a campaign...the media is doing all his pormotions for his...at least so far.

I'm actually glad he doing it. Helps keep this long drawnout campaign BS interesting!

[hughee99]

3. Or perhaps HRC's Senate seat if she is elected in '08.

He may not get the appointment (though I wouldn't be suprised to see him privately lobby for it) but it might set him up for a run. I'm not familiar with NY election law so I'm not sure if they would have to have a special election for her remaining 4 years (like they did in Missouri in 2002).

[aquart]

5. A senator with low seniority after MAYOR? CEO? No.

He only knows how to be in charge.

[hughee99]

15. It might provide far less controversy

than being mayor, and a better place to sit while he waits to see if Spitzer move on to other things (maybe a presidential run eventually). It's probably considerably less stressful. A number of governors have tried to do this with some success (Weld from MA, Ashcroft (not a sitting governor when he ran) and Carnahan from MO, Zell Miller of GA, Macaca Allen (not a sitting governor when he ran). It's easier to duck the big issues (if you want to) as a Senator than it is to do so as NYC mayor. I'm not sure this is it, but it's stuck in my mind as a possibility. Certainly if he was looking for the temporary appointment, he's have no shot at it as a repuke, but as a Dem turned Repuke turned independent, he might have a shot if he switched parties back to the Dems before the announcement.

[aquart]

17. Controversy? What would he care about that?

A senator works with consensus and compromise. He'd rather be dead.

[aquart]

4. If he wanted governor, he would still be Republican.

He'd need the upstate organization. They won't even glance at an Independent up there.

[SaveElmer]

7. A billion is enought to run for Pres...

But not Governor of NY?

[aquart]

10. Money is NOT organization.

Not the same thing at all.

[Zynx]

11. If anyone can put together organization, it is a technocrat like Bloomberg.

You'd be amazed at what gobs of money and proper direction can do.

[aquart]

14. But Bloomberg LOATHES political process.

Especially party process. All the money on the planet won't change that.

[SaveElmer]

12. Could certainly buy one...

And all the advertising you want...

[aquart]

13. Go ahead. Try.

Nothing like failure to teach a sharp lesson (except in the case of our George, who was never allowed to fail).

[Adelante]

6. I doubt it

He's not an Albany kinda guy.

[Renew Deal]

8. One of my friends thinks so.

It's not impossible.

[TwilightGardener]

9. Why become an Indy to run as Gov or Senator 3 or more years from now?

Who knows what the NY political landscape will be like then? Seems to me that dropping affiliation with both parties is a very calculated move for the NATIONAL political landscape right about now, and no, I don't believe it's because he just didn't want to be thought of as a Repub anymore. Something else is going on there.

[OHdem10]

16. It is not Bloomberg as much as it is the elites(the real governing

class in this country. Believe you me, Bloomberg did not
wake up one morning as Mayor of NYC and say I think I should
be President. He has been moving with the Movers and Shakers
for sometime now.

I plan to explain more in a later post. Perhaps some of you
have picked up more than I.

He would not go through all this just to be Governor of NY

[saltpoint]

18. Good question. Spitzer wouldn't have much trouble marshalling

resources for any independent challenge, IMO, despite the recent polling.

I think he'd hold his chair in Albany.

Bloomberg's chow powwow with David Boren suggests to me that the goal is national, not state, office. Oklahoman Boren wouldn't do Bloomberg much good in a run for governor. But as a possible "bi-partisan" veep nom from the central plains, Boren might be just the 'ticket.'

No one with this kind of cash has ever run an independent campaign for the White House. And in a very short period of time, Michael Bloomberg ain't gonna have nothin' to do with his free time.

I think he's running for the top job and not the governor's chair.

[CK_John]

19. The guy is 65, its now or never. Why wait for second when.... n/t

[Doctor_J]

20. Taking on Spitzer would be silly

However, if Hil is in the WH and Eliot runs for her Senate seat, maybe...