Bloomberg kicks GOP to the curb

Billionaire New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced today that he is leaving the Republican Party. The former lifelong Democrat switched his designation to unaffiliated, fueling speculation that he may make an independent run for the White House in 2008. This could possible lead to a three-way New Yorker battle between Bloomberg, Clinton and Giuliani.


The question is, which party or candidate would be most affected by an indy
Bloomberg run?

Former Democratic Party Chairman Donald Fowler said Bloomberg would be "a disturbing factor to both parties," but the mayor would probably draw more Republican votes simply because "Republicans are more disenchanted than Democrats." Indeed, most polls find Bloomberg drawing votes from Republicans.

"Democrats are pretty happy with their candidates," Fowler said. "The Republicans are absolutely in disarray." He called Bloomberg "an exceptionally capable guy" who is "hard-nosed and accomplished," but argued that the obstacles for a third-party candidate are so daunting that it would be nearly impossible for Bloomberg to win.

Independent pollster Scott Rasmussen thinks Bloomberg could have a significant impact on the 2008 race. "Nationally there's a significant segment of the electorate that would give serious consideration to Bloomberg as a candidate", said Rasmussen. His third-party campaign could stress that he is a two-term mayor in a Democratic city and that he built his reputation as a political independent, social moderate and fiscal conservative.

Throughout his tenure as mayor, Bloomberg has often been at odds with the GOP and Bush. He supports gay marriage, abortion rights, gun control and stem cell research, and raised property taxes to help solve a fiscal crisis after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.But, until now, he never seemed willing to part with the GOP completely, raising money for the 2004 presidential convention and contributing to Bush and other Republican candidates. As late as last year he stated that "I couldn't be prouder to run on the Republican ticket and be a Republican."

But the times they are a-changin': Asked about a hypothetical independent candidate entering the race, Bloomberg launched a broad critique of the Bush administration and Congress and lamented the presidential debates to date.

"I think the country is in trouble," Bloomberg said, citing the war in Iraq and America's declining standing globally. "Our reputation has been hurt very badly in the last few years," he said. "We've had a go-it-alone mentality in a world where, because of communications and transportation, you should be going exactly in the other direction."