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Schumer: Bloomberg Can't Beat Hillary
Mayor Michael Bloomberg often has called Hillary Rodham Clinton a "very good senator." He and her husband exchanged compliments at a climate conference they hosted together just last month. So what will become of Bloomberg's warm relations with Sen. Clinton, front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination, if the billionaire former CEO makes his own run for the Oval Office? The mayor denies any such plans, but speculation grew this week with his announcement that he was quitting the Republican Party and becoming an independent. Bloomberg and Clinton have enjoyed a friendly relationship since he was elected to City Hall during her first year as New York's junior senator.
Story Continues Below Bloomberg has always offered praise for Clinton whenever he is asked about her specifically. Clinton's enthusiasm is more reserved. She commends him occasionally for advocating the city's interests in the many causes they share, such as fighting for homeland security money and aid for sick ground zero workers. In recent weeks, amid increasing speculation about his presidential aspirations, Bloomberg has begun frequently and forcefully comparing himself with nameless "legislators" who waste time arguing on Capitol Hill while he's busy with his sleeves rolled up solving real problems. "In this day and age, it is the mayors of this country that are really facing the substantive issues," he said last month during a speech in Houston. "Mayors don't have the luxury of being on both sides of every issue. Mayors have to make decisions and you see it on the streets within hours right after that." It is a message that would go well with a potential Bloomberg candidacy, which his aides and supporters say would be built on a nonpartisan pragmatic get-it-done theme. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., predicted Bloomberg could not win if Clinton is the nominee. "There's only room for a third-party candidate if both parties screw up and nominate people who the public doesn't like," Schumer said. "I think Bloomberg has been a great mayor, he's a great friend, but I think in a certain sense it's out of his hands if the Democrats or the Republicans nominate a strong candidate, and I think we will." Bloomberg is also a friend of former President Bill Clinton, and their amiable relationship was on full display at last month's climate change summit. The mayor, Clinton said in applauding his environmental agenda, had "proved one more time that he's willing to take on an issue and see it through." Bloomberg returned the favor. "Bill Clinton has taught me a great deal about leadership, about being strong, about being charismatic," Bloomberg declared, as the former president turned a pleased shade of pink. Asked Thursday about Bloomberg's party switch, Clinton congratulated the mayor. "He's a very smart fellow and I suppose he just couldn't bear to be in the Republican Party anymore, which I thought showed good judgment on his part," Clinton told reporters at a news conference for his foundation. "I don't have anything to say about him running for president, I've already got a candidate in that race." Pressed on whether a Bloomberg run would help or hurt his wife, the former president said: "Since I think she'll be the best president, she will win against whoever runs. Once you've got a candidate there's no point speculating about anybody else unless you say something negative and our campaign is trying not to do that." Some Republicans are delighted about the prospect of a Bloomberg candidacy, which they interpret as appealing to liberals. Many analysts agree, but there are others who believe that Bloomberg would drain more votes away from the Republican candidate. Democratic strategist Hank Sheinkopf, who worked for President Clinton in 1996, said no candidate should discount Bloomberg, including Hillary Clinton. "She can't be very happy with him," Sheinkopf said. "He can do her significant damage, so it's got to be pretty disconcerting." Clinton spokesman Howard Wolfson said the campaign is focused on the Democratic primary. "Should Sen. Clinton be the nominee, as I hope and assume she will be, we'll make an assessment about who the general election candidates are." The mayor's aides say he is not interested in running an attention-grabbing vanity campaign to make a point or highlight an issue. The only goal would be to win, which many analysts say is a long shot, even with his personal fortune that could bankroll the whole thing. For now, he insists he is not even interested in running, but his denials are absent of any promises, only that it is his "intention" to serve the rest of his term through 2009. He was asked earlier this year whether he thinks Clinton is electable. "Oh, yeah, I think Senator Clinton is electable," he said. "I don't know that she will be. There are lots of Democrats and Republicans that want to run."
© 2007 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Editor's note:
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