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Bloomberg Bullish on McCain
July 24, 2008 2:08 PM
ABC News' Teddy Davis Reports: New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg plans to reinject himself into the presidential campaign on Friday by talking up Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., in a speech to the Independence Party of Minnesota.
Bloomberg plans to praise McCain's record of bucking his own party while stopping short of making an endorsement.
"I feel confident that there will be some positive statements about Sen. McCain," said party chair Craig Swaggert based on indications he began receiving from Bloomberg aides in "the last week or so."
A Bloomberg spokesperson did not quibble with Swaggert's expectation that the New York mayor will single out McCain for praise when he speaks to the party's $100 per head fundraiser. "We look forward to the speech in Minneapolis," said Lindsay Ellenbogen, a Bloomberg spokesperson. "I expect him to talk about effective independent leadership and leaders who exemplify it."
Last month, Bloomberg went to Florida and denounced what he called a "whisper campaign" linking Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., to Islam.
Before Bloomberg ruled out an '08 independent bid for president, Minnesota's Independence Party tried to draft him into the presidential race by circulating a petition.
McCain recently met with the chairman of Minnesota's Independence Party which will weigh this weekend whether to take the unusual step of making a presidential endorsement.
Swaggert said he finds Obama inspirational but he is disappointed that the Illinois Democrat has threatened to pull the United States out of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) if Mexico does not go along with tougher labor and environmental standards.
"We really need to be part of a global economy," said Swaggert.
In an interview with ABC News, Swaggert praised McCain for breaking with his party on immigration, spending, and the environment.
"What we need right now," said Swagger, "is a leader who can focus on the major issues and bring the parties together to cooperate and move ahead rather than voting along ideological lines."
The presumptive Republican nominee, who has long enjoyed a positive relationship with Bloomberg, recently ingratiated himself by meeting behind closed doors with Joel Klein, the chancellor of the New York City school system. The Bloomberg speech takes place at Nicollette Island in Minneapolis at 9:00 am ET.
Later Friday, at a 3:00 pm ET press conference at the St. Paul Hotel, Bloomberg will join Pennsylvania Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell (in person) plus California Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (via satellite) for a press conference calling on both parties to adopt an infrastructure plank to their party platforms.
This bipartisan group wants the feds to make "smarter, less politicized" investment decisions.
Minnesota was chosen as the site for this bipartisan platform push because the one-year anniversary of the Minneapolis bridge collapse is Aug. 1.
Bloomberg plans to take questions from the press at both events.
July 24, 2008 in Thompson, Fred | Permalink | User Comments (37)
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Bloomberg is very confusing. First he shows up at an Obama event now this?
Posted by: Hippemom | Jul 24, 2008 2:46:54 PM
Things must be going extremely well in NYC for Bloomberg to take a part in the National political scene. Yesterday speaking on behalf of Obama; tomorrow on behalf of McCain; maybe next Bob Barr and/or Ralph Nader. What a guy, having something nice to say for each unlike the McCain campaign who can only trash talk.
Posted by: Lou R | Jul 24, 2008 2:55:38 PM
The guy who picks up my trash will endorse him. He won't stop short, either . . . . .
This event is significant. We can name the new bridge, the McCain double cross.
Posted by: DAVID NH | Jul 24, 2008 2:57:29 PM
there is nothing that can save GOP from this lose.
They are losers
they pick disable loser.
Posted by: Linda,Fl | Jul 24, 2008 3:35:46 PM
Face it, Obama is tanking. Pretty soon even Massachusetts will be in play for the republicans.
When that happens, it will be 1980 all over again. Let's hear it for President McCain.
Then, we can get to work on replacing the leaders of the Democratic Party who tried to stuff this loser, Obama down our throats. Democrats had a clear path to the Whitehouse in 2008 had they chosen their strongest candidate - Hillary Clinton.
Posted by: s. valenti | Jul 24, 2008 3:52:46 PM
Would Barack Obama have gone to Berlin to give the speech he gave today if he had not defeated Senator Hillary Clinton----the answer is clearly no. Obama says he came as a citizen and not as a candidate for the Presidency yet he gives a “campaign speech”. His speech was nothing special, just big words and actually not well put. “I know that I don't look like the Americans who've previously spoken in this great city” obviously referring to the “race issue”. “The journey that led me here is improbable”, is what he is saying unlikely and unbelievable because I am from America where they have racism there. Is he telling the people of Berlin and the world if I do not win the Election it is because there is racism in America? Is that the message that he is sending to the world, not that he is inexperienced, young, with an ego the size of Mount Olympics. “That is why America cannot turn inward. That is why Europe cannot turn inward. America has no better partner than Europe.” Well America has many Allies that have stood and fought with us for freedom, giving the nod to Europe as the best is offensive to the other countries that maybe aren’t as big as Europe, but gave sacrifices and stood by America. Very disappointed in what I see and hear from a candidate that has not been elected by the people, and for the people---meaning he shouldn’t be representing America’s interests to all of these people with first being Elected by America.
Posted by: Anne | Jul 24, 2008 3:54:50 PM
"Bucking the trend of his own party?" Is he serious? McCain voted with Bush 95% of the time in 2007, 100% in 2008. I think if Mike looks closer he will see that McCain has since backtracked on a lot of his more mavericky moments, such as when he opposed Bush's tax cuts, correctly noting that it is absurd to cut taxes when we are at war. Now McCain is for the cuts (a Republican running on a platform of cutting taxes? Wow, that is bold). That's my mayor, I guess he's playing both sides against the middle, hedging our bets so to speak. I wish Bloomberg would simply show some guts and do what's right. If McCain wins we are screwed anyway, so there's no reason for him to take a position in order to prepare for that contingency. We are much better off if he throws his full-throated support behind Obama and bolsters his chances of getting elected, and to minimize the prospect of the global disaster that would ensue if McCain is elected.
Posted by: Bob Scofield | Jul 24, 2008 4:01:13 PM
Oh, Oh! Now Watch The Mainstream Liberal
Media Start Trashing Bloomberg!
Just Like they did to McCain!
McCain was the greatest until he
decided to run for president!
Now that he's going to say some good things about McCain you can expect the
Liberal Media to dig something up
on Bloomberg!
Posted by: reaganfan | Jul 24, 2008 4:05:05 PM
Hey Barack
I speak 3 languages to your one
many ammericans speak more than one language do not genralize us with your lack of commitment to learning a foreign language
Ich bin ein berliner is translated as i am a cake pastry
ich bin berliner - i am a resident of berlin
Posted by: karl | Jul 24, 2008 4:27:56 PM
Mccain is so funny first he asked Obama to got to the Middle East thinking he was going to somehow make a fool of himself. Then when his plan comes unglued by the Iraq Goverment when they agree with Obama on his timetable. Then Off to Jordan gets a ride personally from the KING ? Then knocks it out the box with Isreal and Palestine. Then in Germany today . This man really thinks he is going to be President. He is a old bitter man who has had his CARD pulled . I say by Nov 08 the Republicans are doomed this election no seat is safe NOV 08 will be the next liberation of our country .
Posted by: Nando, Florida | Jul 24, 2008 4:56:14 PM
Of course these people are behind McCain, the president will be their gravy train and they do not want anyone in office they can't control.
Don't be so dumb.
Posted by: becky | Jul 24, 2008 5:06:07 PM
Anne,
Thanks for your post. This idiot will not speak for us. He is not "Mr. President" and yet he acts like one! The pure reason Obama has in his mind is come to Berlin to sell his image only. Please check the polls from CNN website, the gap is closing and in some swing states John McCain is ahead of him!
Posted by: Lola | Jul 24, 2008 5:30:25 PM
Anne and Lola: I think you are Hillary supporters, which is fine. Please do not put "Would he have gone if Hillary won" in a sentence. How can you say he would not have gone?? No one knows this. I believe that if Hillary would have won, then YES, Obama probably would be making this speech today to help her win because we all know she could not do it on her own. This is why he won and not her. Get a life.
Posted by: becky | Jul 24, 2008 5:39:50 PM
A leopard cannot change his spots, even when he is a solid color, if you look closely you can still see the spots. McCain is trying to say he is not Bush's third term, but if you look closely, his voting record in the past has mirrowed Bush. Pay no attention to his solid color now that he is trying to woo voters. He still has those spots.
Posted by: William | Jul 24, 2008 5:56:57 PM
Perhaps all you Obamaniacs should check the most recent polls. Despite McCain's less than well run campaign, Obama is losing ground because American's are starting to understand that Obama is a flip flopping, ultra liberal egomaniac and he has nothing to offer except typical empty political rhetoric about change. He can't even admit he was wrong when the whole world is pointing it out to him. At least McCain does what he thinks is right and if it turns out the facts change then he will alter his opinion. Frankly I am glad the mainstream media is so over the top with their adoring coverage. It is making people so sick of seeing and hearing Obama that they will never vote for him in November
Posted by: Brenda | Jul 24, 2008 6:03:40 PM
Does anyone remember months ago when Obama met with Bloomberg and there was talk Bloomberg was behind Obama and might be his running mate. Ha! You people were suckered.
Posted by: a reader in ga | Jul 24, 2008 6:04:35 PM
Michael Bloomburg can be bullish on McCain all he wants, but that is not going to make a difference in this race. New York is still going to vote Democratic and he will then look like a fool for backing McCain. That will ruin his chances for 2012. You cannot play with fire and not expect to get burned occasionally.
Posted by: William | Jul 24, 2008 6:06:02 PM
Interesting,last week Bloomberg held a huge welcome affair for Senator Clinton and had nothing but praise, even though he never held a meeting with Clinton for at least a three years, including the primaries. This week he is praising McCain. Bloomberg is not stupid. I think he sees that Obama's narcissim and imaturity will cause him to tank, and Clinton may emerge for a fight against McCain.
Posted by: eviee | Jul 24, 2008 7:02:32 PM
WOW, yet another Democrat endorsing another Democrat... SO WHAT!?!
Posted by: jeez! | Jul 24, 2008 7:04:47 PM
Jeez, Don't be so naive. Bloomberg and Clinton have not held meetings for years, yet he showered her with praises as never before. Bloomberg doen't praise and hold a huge affair for just any democrat.
Posted by: eviee | Jul 24, 2008 7:13:58 PM
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