Republicans hope Bloomberg would split Democratic vote
naky
www.diecastingpartsupplier.com
2016-01-27 11:43:17
Republican presidential contenders have welcomed the news that Michael Bloomberg is considering a run for the White House, arguing that the former New York mayor would siphon support away from the eventual Democratic nominee.
Donald Trump, the property mogul and former star of The Apprentice, said he would be “very happy” at the prospect, following reports that the founder of the eponymous financial information group was willing to spend at least $1bn of his estimated $39bn fortune on an independent campaign for the presidency.
“I would love to see Michael run. I would love the competition,” Mr Trump told the New York Times.
Mr Bloomberg has asked advisers to draft plans for a possible campaign because of concerns about Mr Trump’s rise on the Republican side and as Bernie Sanders, the Vermont senator, has presented an unexpectedly strong challenge to Hillary Clinton, the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination.
His entry into the race would further complicate an election that has been upended by populist campaigns. Mrs Clinton played down concerns about Mr Bloomberg, saying her understanding was that he would consider running only if she did not get the Democratic nomination. “I am going to relieve him of that and get the nomination so he doesn’t have to,” the former secretary of state told NBC News.
But the former mayor has expressed concerns about Mrs Clinton as a candidate, and is reportedly preparing to make a decision in early March when the Democratic nomination may not be decided.