Wow. Third party candidacies tend not to have much of a shot - but if the candidate is willing to throw in a billion dollars of his own money, that definitely changes the equation.
Any initial reactions to a Bloomberg candidacy? Would you be willing to consider him if he gets in the race?
Posted by armand at May 15, 2007 08:20 AM | TrackBack | Posted to PoliticsRumor has it that Chuck Hagel would be his running mate. I kind of like Hagel, but I'm iffy on Bloomberg -- he could be good in a refreshing way, or he could end up taking the nanny state to spectacular new levels. He doesn't seem like a guy who would have much regard for trivialities like enumerated powers, the Tenth Amendment, etc., etc.
On the other hand, a billion-dollar third party run would be a lot of fun to watch.
Posted by: jacflash at May 15, 2007 11:30 AM | PERMALINK"Fun" being defined as "watching a train crash into a bus full of people." A billion dollar third-party run would make a mess of politics (not that traditional politics is any great shakes).
Posted by: baltar at May 15, 2007 01:34 PM | PERMALINKWhat Baltar - you don't find chaos and uncertainty entertaining? Given how boring a lot of campaigns are ...
What this makes me wonder about though is just where is the money going to go? I mean there is only so much ad time to buy. So, does this mean we can look forward to the best production values EVER in the ads that are created? Or mammoth spectacles unlike any we've ever seen? I'm honestly curious to know how one could manage to spend that much money on a race.
Of course I'm also curious to know who'd be on top in that Hagel-Bloomberg ticket. I mean if we are talking about this much of Bloomberg's money being spent on the campaign ... but then again, Hagel's the better known national figure ... and of course how do you reconcile their hugely different (at least on social issues) political philosophies?
Anyway, I do think it could definitely liven up the race - especially if it's otherwise a McCain-Clinton contest.
Posted by: Armand at May 15, 2007 01:55 PM | PERMALINKMcCain? He's dropping like a stone, isn't he? Somewhere last night I read a rumor suggesting that lots of his people are making quiet phone calls to Bloomberg, hoping to jump ship if and when. His internal polling must be showing terrible numbers.
Another thing to consider: if Bloomberg enters the race, who benefits? Not Hillary, for sure. Won't Bloomberg split the pro-namby-pamby vote and end up benefiting someone like Fred Thompson (or some other candidate who can capture the GOP base with some mainstream appeal)?
I wonder who is really encouraging Bloomberg.
Posted by: jacflash at May 15, 2007 02:35 PM | PERMALINKps to Baltar: yes, that's exactly what I meant.
Posted by: jacflash at May 15, 2007 02:35 PM | PERMALINK