The New York Times reports that President Barack Obama and New York City mayor Mike Bloomberg recently had a lunch meeting at the White House:
Over a long private lunch at the White House, President Obama posed a question to Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg: what are you interested in doing next?
Mr. Bloomberg’s precise response is unknown. But their meeting a few weeks ago, confirmed by aides to both leaders and previously undisclosed, was potentially significant for both men, as Mr. Obama seeks support for his presidential campaign and Mr. Bloomberg ponders his post-mayoral career.
Mr. Obama, facing a bruising re-election fight, is eager to attract the kind of centrist, independent voters drawn to Mr. Bloomberg’s brand of politics.
Mr. Bloomberg, confronting the end of his career in elected office, is grappling with how to exert the kind of influence over public discourse that he has had as mayor of the nation’s largest city.
Mr. Bloomberg’s precise response is unknown. But their meeting a few weeks ago, confirmed by aides to both leaders and previously undisclosed, was potentially significant for both men, as Mr. Obama seeks support for his presidential campaign and Mr. Bloomberg ponders his post-mayoral career.
Mr. Obama, facing a bruising re-election fight, is eager to attract the kind of centrist, independent voters drawn to Mr. Bloomberg’s brand of politics.
Mr. Bloomberg, confronting the end of his career in elected office, is grappling with how to exert the kind of influence over public discourse that he has had as mayor of the nation’s largest city.
Could Obama believe Bloomberg wants to run for president as an independent in 2012? The White House may suspect that a Bloomberg candidacy could hurt Obama more than it would hurt the Republican nominee. According to Americans Elect’s website, Bloomberg is one of the top-supported candidates in the online nominating process.
Americans Elect, meanwhile, may be in need of a high-profile figure like Bloomberg aligning himself with the group. A new report from BuzzFeed suggests the organization may run into some financial trouble soon.
