Bloomberg would only help the GOP candidate

The same friends who leaked to the Washington Times yesterday that New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg was considering a 2008 independent run also acknowledged that it would destroy the Democrats' chances in 2008:

They say a Bloomberg candidacy would make it difficult for theDemocratic nominee to win the electoral votes of New York, as well asof Connecticut and New Jersey. All are blue-state must-wins for theDemocratic nominee, but not for the Republican standard-bearer, whoeverhe turns out to be.

"If Bloomberg and his people can pull together a serious run,it will allow some blue states to become very competitive for the GOP,such as New York, New Jersey and New Hampshire, maybe Colorado, 0hio --and the Northeast in general," said New Hampshire-based Republicancampaign strategist David Carney.

The Northeast is precisely where the Democrats have been trying to make gains ever since 2004.

Without New York, New Jersey and New Hampshire, the Democratic candidate would need to make up exactly 50 electoral votes somewhere else in the country just to break even with what they finished with in 2004.  Even sweeping Iowa, Missouri, Louisiana, Arkansas, Arizona, and Nevada would not be enough!  Plus, that does not include the fact that they must win either Ohio or Florida.

The thought of a Bloomberg candidacy might sound like a breath of fresh air.  On the other hand, the end result would be yet another GOP presidency.

Comments

[Tano]

GOP mindgames. Washington Times, after all.

A Bloomberg candidacy would only hurt Dems in the sense that moderate / liberal Republicans in the NE, who are unhappy with the GOP candidate, would have a place to go, rather than actually voting for the Dem. So it might preclude a Dem landslide. But there will be precious few Dems who would vote for any Republican, especially in 08, so I seriously doubt he would decrease our vote. And so long as we turn out all the people we usually do, we win, as we usually do.

If Rudy is the GOP candidate, that Bloomberg would destroy his chances. You would have a complete split in Republican vote in the NY-NE area, while the Dems would hold firm behind our candidate.

[Jan]

re: "journalism" from the Washington Times -- amen.

Also, I personally think that if this helps Rudy, Bloomberg WOULDN'T do it.
And anyway, doesn't this assume that Blooomberg would win NO red states from Rudy? I do not find that very believble.