Is Bill Clinton buttering up Bloomberg for a presidential run?
While we’re on the subject of 2008, it’s certainly interesting that New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is, according to an exclusive story in the Washington Times, setting aside $1 billion in his own money for a possible run as an independent presidential candidate. But surely someone as smart as Bloomberg—who made his fortune running an ...
While we're on the subject of 2008, it's certainly interesting that New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is, according to an exclusive story in the Washington Times, setting aside $1 billion in his own money for a possible run as an independent presidential candidate. But surely someone as smart as Bloomberg—who made his fortune running an eponymous financial information business—can do the math. You win a presidential election by winning individual states, not via a nationwide popular vote. Which states can Bloomberg conceivably win? I can't think of any.
While we’re on the subject of 2008, it’s certainly interesting that New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is, according to an exclusive story in the Washington Times, setting aside $1 billion in his own money for a possible run as an independent presidential candidate. But surely someone as smart as Bloomberg—who made his fortune running an eponymous financial information business—can do the math. You win a presidential election by winning individual states, not via a nationwide popular vote. Which states can Bloomberg conceivably win? I can’t think of any.
So what’s going on? Close readers of Passport may recall that Bloomberg shared the stage with former U.S. President Bill Clinton on Monday at a conference on climate change. Clinton is a notorious leaker. The Washington Times’ story ran on Tuesday. Mayhaps Bill wanted to create a little confusion in Republican ranks, hmmm? Or better yet: Convince Bloomberg that he really should run, and hope he siphons away Republican votes, clearing the way for … President Hillary, of course.
More from Foreign Policy


The Scrambled Spectrum of U.S. Foreign-Policy Thinking
Presidents, officials, and candidates tend to fall into six camps that don’t follow party lines.


What Does Victory Look Like in Ukraine?
Ukrainians differ on what would keep their nation safe from Russia.


The Biden Administration Is Dangerously Downplaying the Global Terrorism Threat
Today, there are more terror groups in existence, in more countries around the world, and with more territory under their control than ever before.


Blue Hawk Down
Sen. Bob Menendez’s indictment will shape the future of Congress’s foreign policy.