Mystery pollster is asking about support for Bloomberg in billion-dollar self-financed campaign

[DeepModem Mom]

NY Daily News: Mystery of Mike-for-prez phone calls
An unidentified pollster asks if voters would back Bloomy for an independent run
BY MICHAEL SAUL
DAILY NEWS CITY HALL BUREAU CHIEF
Friday, June 29th 2007

The phone rings. A mysterious automated voice begins asking questions about Mayor Bloomberg running for - surprise, surprise - President.

Would you support Bloomberg running for the White House as an independent?

Would you support his candidacy if he pledged to spend $1 billion of his own money on the campaign?

Philip Cornell, of Somerset County, N.J., said he received that very call at home in mid- or early June. The automated voice did not identify who commissioned the poll, he said.

"The point it kept returning to was - would I consider voting for him if he ran as an independent and pledged a billion dollars to his campaign," Cornell said.

Despite Bloomberg's declaration that he harbors no interest in running for President and will remain at City Hall until his term ends in December 2009, his aides refused to say if the mayor is paying for polling about a White House bid.

"We don't comment about his private schedule or personal life," said Stu Loeser, Bloomberg's spokesman....

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/wn_report/2007/06/29/2007-06-29_mystery_of_mikeforprez_phone_calls.html

[TwilightGardener]

1. Hmmm. Saw some polling results that show he steals from the Repubs more than us,

despite the GOPers' insistence that he's a "liberal Democrat". Go Mikey!

[MADem]

3. I think that's totally untrue. Most GOP voters don't hold his unabashedly liberal views.

Bloomberg was a Democrat his entire life until he ran for Mayor. He switched ONLY because he didn't want to get mired down in the Democratic primary.

I don't think the GOP will turn out in droves for a pro-choice, pro-gay marriage, former potsmoker, pro-social programs ex-Republican-for-convenience. I'm betting those polling results weren't done with the same degree of thoroughness as this commissioned poll. They were likely 'pushed' to make a point.

[TwilightGardener]

4. I was surprised by the results--I assumed he would hurt us more.

(Can't remember where I saw them or whose polls they were--but they were legitimate--Gallup maybe?)
Anyway, RW pundits (like George Will, Hannity, etc.) are trying REALLY hard to put him into OUR category, totally denying he was ever a GOPer, so that he damages us. Jonathan Alter (in Newsweek) even suggested he might be a VP pick for any Dem nominee but Hillary. So I guess he's more ours than theirs, but I'm hopeful that he picks a Pubbie running mate that might make the ticket look a little more conservative. If he picks a Dem, we might be screwed.

[MADem]

5. Once people learn Bloomberg's positions, he'll screw US by taking away

Democratic and Independent votes from our candidate.

If those results aren't BS, they're probably responses from people who think he's a generic Giuliani-ish Republican. Once those people are familiar with his actual stances, they'd like him less, I'd wager.

Supposedly, his VP is going to be Chuck Hagel--now CHUCK could pull in the GOP voters, but Bloomberg on his own? Naaah.

[TwilightGardener]

7. I agree that once his positions become known, he will threaten us more,

despite the poll results. I don't think he'll run if either Obama or Rudy are the nominees, but I do think he'll run if it's McCain, Romney, Thompson vs. Hillary or Edwards--I've heard that he will jump in if nominees with "high negatives" are picked--that's code for "Hillary". As far as the Chuckster, I'm not sure about his pull with GOPers, considering that over on Free Republic, they fantasize about his death so they can shit on his grave. Yes, I actually read this. However, he might also be seen as a prophet to the more moderate GOPers, as more congressional Repubs jump off the Iraq train wreck and abandon Chimpy. Hard to say, but I hope Bloomberg will consider taking a BELOVED GOPer (can't think of any right now!) to be his running mate.

[MADem]

8. He's friends with the Clintons. If Hillary wins, he's out. Or so "they" say.

"They" also say that if Giuliani is in it, he'll jump in and CRUSH Giuliani, because he dislikes the guy pretty intensely. But who knows what's in his head? Hell, people forget that Perot could have won it, if he'd not acted so whacky midway through his race--for a time there, he was beating BOTH Poppy and Clinton handily. He just didn't know how to "maintain." Bloomberg is probably much better at that....

I'd be surprised if Bloomberg picks anyone other than Hagel for his running mate. Rumors of Hagel going independent were floating around many, many months ago, even before his association with Bloomberg started cropping up. They've met, they've talked, but no one on their staffs is saying much of anything.

Here's another load of speculation:

For better or worse, thanks to Mayor Bloomberg's assertion of political independence, we'll be hearing about an all-New Yorker presidential race for months to come. Last week, a Quinnipiac poll found that New York State would go to Democratic front runner Senator Hillary Clinton, over former Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Bloomberg. Clinton would get 43% of state votes, Giuliani would get 29% and Bloomberg would get 16%. If Bloomberg's not in the picture, Clinton still wins NY State, 52% to Giuliani's 37%.

And yesterday, a CNN poll reveals that Bloomberg would help shift votes to Clinton in national race between Clinton, Giuliani and Bloomberg. Without Bloomberg, Clinton and Giuliani gets 49% and 48% respectively; with Mayor Mike, Clinton gets 41%, Giuliani 28%, and Bloomberg 17%. Which seems surprising since we had suspected Bloomberg would take some Democratic votes. Then again, who knows, since a three-New Yorker race would probably be the nightmare of the country between the coasts.

The Observer's Steve Kornacki thinks that Bloomberg skeptics are doubting the Mayor's chances a little too much. And NY Sun's Ryan Sager notes that Fred Thompson has bought GoogleAds next to stories about McCain's drop in the polls (which appear next to Clinton ads). You've got to love technology. ....
http://gothamist.com/2007/06/26/how_bloomberg_f.php

[PATRICK]

6. Now and later

The GOP won't be fooled twice. The situation will be gamed against the Dems. Bloomberg is not idealist, individualist or pro-democracy champion. They owned the Buchanan factor. they will run with this one as a necessary complement to a sure defeat- even with bold cheating- in 2008. the Dems can unfortunately be predicted to look upon this with the old wisdom and these reassuring poll numbers and welcome yet another Trojan horse into the city.

the threat to Clinton- that backfired- was that Perot eclipsed the Dems and was a media distraction made to order for them. unfortunately he eclipsed Bush as well and the destruction of Perot by Bush savaged away the possible advantages and made Bush look worse. Bill then arose calmly out of the ashes. As to whose constituency was robbed more there is debate on that- and that fact should scare you because doubt of an effect (already on record!) means it can be interpreted and played either way- more grounds for election trickery way beyond the support calculations that never arrive.

WHY is he really running. Bloomberg. Now. Is this a NY establishment plot to overthrow the Bushes? More likely it is primarily a big favor for the GOP and if Hillary is the nominee the attempt will be made to spotlight difficulties and unpredicted expenses in NYC into a campaign weakening factor- just for starters. if this is a prime calculation you will see Bloomberg enter the fray as soon as it becomes apparent that Hillary is inevitable and by degrees according to that process. If it is part and partnership with a Guiliani candidacy(or selling point, because how can Guiliani alone carry his own state???) maybe it is more complicated for the Bush dynasty.

[MADem]

9. I think Bloomberg is rich, and thinks he CAN. I don't think he's carrying GOP water--he could BUY

all of those bastards.

I think he's got more money than he knows what to do with, so what the hell--he's thinking about buying himself a Presidency. And his aides say if he gets in, he's in it to win it. Still more idle speculation:

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/N/NY_BLOOMBERG_CLINTON_BAOL-?SITE=WPIX&SECTION=NORTHEAST&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Some Republicans are delighted about the prospects of a Bloomberg candidacy, which they interpret as appealing to liberals, and therefore siphoning votes from the Democrat and handing them the win. Many analysts agree, but there are others who believe that Bloomberg would drain more votes away from the Republican candidate.

Democratic strategist Hank Sheinkopf, who worked for President Clinton in 1996, said no candidate should discount Bloomberg, including Hillary..."She can't be very happy with him," Sheinkopf said. "He can do her significant damage, so it's got to be pretty disconcerting."

....The mayor's aides say he is not interested in running an attention-grabbing vanity campaign to make a point or highlight an issue. The only goal would be to win, which many analysts say is a long shot, even with his personal fortune that could bankroll the whole thing.

For now, he insists he is not even interested in running....He was asked earlier this year whether he thinks Clinton is electable.

"Oh, yeah, I think Sen. Clinton is electable," he said. "I don't know that she will be. There are lots of Democrats and Republicans that want to run."

[PATRICK]

10. You reinforce

a couple of my arguments about his net effect. His INTENT, God knows. New York mayors actually move toward independent status as part of the local coalition act. More than one of them decided this would be a great thing on the national level. As far as the idealist backbone and personal chutzpah to become a serious candidate, forgive me for suspecting this lesser clay has other intent in mind.

In the end his intentions do not matter overmuch except that if he is a Perot style wild card he will be all the more quickly repressed or destroyed. This gang does not like taking risks. If Bloomberg is going to be a GOP asset, he damn well WILL be a GOP asset or he will be knocked right out of the picture. If he isn't they will play him as long as they can hurt the Dems before doing the same.

Ron Paul is getting the squeeze out routine as the time approaches as well. The permitted candidates, Romney and Thompson will try to puff up their misery with a show battle and the "dramatic" takedown of Rudy.

[MADem]

11. Well, I don't really see it that way. I think he's rich, he thinks he can buy it, and he wants to

do it. That's just my take. YMMV.

You can't compare Ron Paul to Bloomberg, not that you are doing that. Ron Paul is outta there because he has no supporters and no money. He's a fringe candidate.

Bloomberg will get in there WITH a bunch of supporters simply because he has money. People like rich people, they hope their talent will rub off, or something. Who'd put up with Trump, for example, if that asswipe was a garbage collector? No one. But they sure suck up to him when his bank accounts are filled to overflowing...

A billion is a lot to spend on an election. An awful lot. That money will get Bloomie's message out. It will control his message, too. He can hire the best and the brightest to shape and mold the way people feel about him. It's all sales, and he's got the biggest sales budget.

Even bigger than the RNC.

I am of late hoping that Romney fucked himself with that dog story. The picture of an Irish setter, squeezed in a box on top of Romney's car for a twelve hour car ride at seventy miles an hour, shitting and pissing down the back window of the vehicle, isn't going to go away. Even Fucker Carlson was appalled....

[PATRICK]

12. My opinion

is that Bloomberg is a GOP team player or he will be stopped, foul means preferred. Just speculation. We'll see or we won't be allowed to see. Paul was just an example of the interdiction the Bush GOP uses on anything upsetting the apple cart. They used personal attacks on Perot then turned and called his reactions delusional. Same tactics more easily applied to McCain. Or whatever it takes. Which he will be made to understand the easy way or the hard way. And how did anti-Bush tough guy Buchanan go so limp after he conveniently stole the Independence Party? We know nothing except the result in 2000.

[MADem]

2. Mystery, my ass. Bloomie paid for that. Smart move to use an automated voice.

....his aides refused to say if the mayor is paying for polling about a White House bid....Cornell described the survey, which lasted 10 to 15 minutes, as "very thorough." It began with a bunch of demographic questions about him, such as his age and his income.



Yep, they refused to say, because they didn't want to lie. And it sounds like a 'quality effort.' Something someone with tons of money would commission....