The Bloomberg Effect....what if any?

[Myerz]

Sorry, I am not plugginig for anyone but Ron.....but,

I woke up this morning to MSNBC pushing the thought that he was
getting closer to runnnung as an independant. I'm not sure what to make
of it all. Does he actually think he is going to provide some middle ground be tween to polarized candidates?

What are your thoughts on this possibility?

[Adamsa]

He'll run if he thinks he can win.

[Myerz]

That's enlightening...thanks. 8x~

[schmeisser]

I think he is just being a blowhard and won't run. Most seem to think in a general election that he would pull more from the Democrats. The only possible ways a Bloomberg run would affect us:

1. If he runs 3rd party while RP gains the Republican nomination and runs as the R candidate - most likely helps us.

2. If RP were to run 3rd party, Bloomberg may offset some of our "spoiler" power on the D side.

If Ron Paul runs 3rd party, we might see a Bloomberg run - otherwise, it is probably all hot air.

[Adamsa]

I think he'll run if Edwards or Obama is the nominee.

[mconder]

He has said he'd drop 1bil into the race...I'd say that would have a huge impact and could possibly start a viable 3rd party in this country. Too bad is will be a choice between socialist part A, B, or C.

[Myerz]

I think he'll run if Edwards or Obama is the nominee.

You must have read the MSNBC article.......you quoted it!

[WillInMiami]

I think Bloomburg would take more votes from dems than anyone else. I can't see him getting votes from Dr. Paul (as either the Republican nominee or as an independant). If the race were as follows:

D: Hillary, Edwards, or Obama
R: Romney, McCain, Huck
I: Ron Paul
I: Bloomburg

we could actually see an independant in the White House in 2009.

[Adamsa]

I wonder what a Paul/Bloomberg ticket would be like...

[improv241]

Bloomberg is a democrat. He just understands how to balance a budget (which takes him out of the dem party), so he's an independent.....

[improv241]

I wonder what a Paul/Bloomberg ticket would be like...

No way that will happen. He's wayyyy too liberal for Paul.

[Adamsa]

No way that will happen. He's wayyyy too liberal for Paul.

I know, I was just thinking out loud. I admire Bloomberg's "run the government like a business" philosophy, and think as a VP he could make the federal government more efficient.

[MayTheRonBeWithYou]

The fact is that we have no control over it, so don't worry about it. If Ron gets shut out of the GOP and runs 3rd party, bloomberg could drain more away from the dem and gop candidates, and really open the race up, so Ron could win with only like 25% of the vote, which is within the realm of possibility.

[improv241]

I wouldn't throw out the idea of Paul as Prez and Bloomberg as VP. I doubt Bloomberg would be up for it, but Paul would accept it. He would have to take the money... Bloomberg brings a ton to the table - liberal, but very efficient.

Together they would be a powerful ticket, but realistically, it won't happen.

[RedLightning]

Ron Paul would loose supporters if he ran with Bloomberg.

[patrick123]

Ron Paul would loose[sic] supporters if he ran with Bloomberg.

He'd lose me for sure. Bloomberg has ran illegal sting operations in Virginia(my home state) while mayor of nyc. It was invasive, illegal, and most definitely big government.

[Paul4Prez]

The same as the "Romney Effect."

Rich guy blows a lot of his own money, gets a lot of publicity, and finishes a distant third.