I’m not seeing any interest at all for Bloomberg - not in real life, not in the blogosphere. I know I’m not interested.
It’s my understanding that a Presidential run costs about 300 million dollars — including primaries (which he need not do).
Regardless, $1 billion is absurd. It does not cost that much — unless . . . unless he waits for the GOP and Dem nominees and goes to their senior campaign staff and offers triple or quadruple their salaries.
He could destroy the competition that way. Perhaps 60% of those staffs would swagger about all principled and say they cannot leave the campaign in September. The other 40% could say they have a responsibility to their families and their kids’ college funds to take that money.
That would be interesting. Bloomberg, professionally staffed, vs the GOP and Dem candidates with no campaign staff remaining above clerk level.
Is there some clamoring for an independent candidate? I certainly don’t see it. I wonder who supposedly is urging Bloomberg to run. I can’t imagine why anyone wants him too when his record is largely indistinguishable from the Demo candidates.