It's not just the greatly magnified role foreign policy plays in NYC politics. Some of the briefings Bloomberg is apparently receiving transcend thinking about both the city's security and understanding the global concerns common among the constituents of such an international city.

So Bloomberg may still be considering a run, particularly if he doesn't like the candidates the major parties nominate. Or, he may simply see studying international affairs as an important hobby befitting someone of his stature and CV. He's clearly flattered by all of the positive attention that talk about running has gotten him. He's travelled all over the country giving talks on a range of policy topics. Now that his reputation transcends his title and purview of his office, perhaps it seems natural that he branch out in his study.

Maybe it's mainly ego, maybe it's preparation for some higher office.

soderberg's a damn site better adviser than rudy's norman podhoretz.

wouldn't Bloomberg mainly split the Democratic New York state presidential vote and possibly throw it to the Republican?

wouldn't this be why he would run?

Interesting. The current mayor of New York running against the former mayor of New York, and the Senator from New York.

Using a former Clinton advisor? Vice President material perhaps? I know the full post suggests Soderberg has remained neutral in this election cycle and that supposedly Bloomberg sought out an independent advisor, but maybe that's all deflection.

and bloomberg is absolutely not running and also will not be hillary's running mate. an all-NY ticket? come on already.

I doubt Bloomberg is going to run for pres., especially after Thompsons ho hum late arrival let down. Didn't he recently leave the republican party, He seems to be grooming himself for a VP role. On a Dem. ticket he would draw a lot of republican leaning swing voters, be an excellent antidote to Rudy, (I think a better nyc mayor)
I agree not Clinton but I can see sense in
Obama/Bloomberg
Huckabee/Bloomberg
Edwards/Bloomberg

I'm not planning on running for president either, but I like to keep up on world news as much as possible. If you have a few billion, why not have a gofer, informationwise? He didn't get where he is by being uninformed.

I've been thinking for a while that Bloomberg may be prepping himself to run for Senate should Hillary win the nomination and vacate her seat. If she did so, the seat would be filled by special election in Nov '08, correct? This would fit with Bloomberg repeatedly and emphatically denying a run for Pres yet maintaining a hold on a url for "Bloomber '08".

Ack. "BloomberG '08". Sorry for the typo - writing on a Treo = small buttons!

Actually the special election would not be in Nov. 08 - that's potentially when Clinton would be elected president. If she is elected, Governor Spitzer would appoint a Senator and the special election would be in 2010.

Which makes me wonder, in that case, who would Spitzer appoint? Certainly not Bloomberg...

I note from the C.V. on her website that Nancy Soderberg is a Council on Foreign Relations member. Its great to see that no matter who wins in 2008, whether it be Rudy, Hillary, Barak, John or Mike Bloomberg, the CFR candidate will win. We can expect the same great advice and policies we've seen in the past 50 years.

Good night and good luck.

If the country behaves, and nominates Rudy and Hillary, he will leave things alone.

If we act up, and nominate something like Huckabee and Obama, (that damned revulsion about sleaze and trust issues with Rudy and Hillary could cause voters to do things they really should not), then he is sure to run.

If someone unacceptable from either party seems strong enough to beat Rudy or Hillary, ---he would have a hard calculation to make.

Mark my words people, even though Bloomberg may run as an independent, I can't help but wonder that if Giuliani wins the nomination he would, no doubt choose, Bloomberg as his running mate, or the other way around.