Campaign strategists from both major parties discuss the possibilities of and prospects for a potential third-party or independent run for the presidency by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, in a very interesting article in the New York Sun.
"There's been discussion about Bloomberg, and no one likes the idea of a third party getting in the race with millions and millions of dollars," an adviser to one of the leading Republican contenders said.
Internet campaign guru Joe Trippi, who helped make Howard Dean 
a temporary front-runner in 2004, says Bloomberg's wealth - Forbes and other sources put his net worth at $5 billion - combined with voters' disgust with polarized partisanship, are a combination that could give Bloomberg a decent shot, if he decides to run.
Doug Bailey, a GOP consultant now affiliated with Unity08, a new political group that is trying to build grassroots support for a centrist, bipartisan ticket, wants Bloomberg to run.
UnityO8 is described as as a grass-roots drive to run a bipartisan presidential ticket in two years with candidates chosen by a national primary on the Internet.
But other veteran campaign strategists and pollsters say Bloomberg's chances aren't that good.
It's worth noting that Bloomberg has, so far, said he has no interest in running for president. But there are those who want to change his mind. There's a Draft Michael Bloomberg for President Committee, complete with a website.
Someone with Bloomberg's wealth can't be discounted outright, of course, but if Bloomberg runs there will be two New York mayors in the race, and the other one is much more well-known and popular with the American people than the other.
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