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07/11/2018 | Opinion - Editorial: A Bloomberg 2020 run would bring Democrats back to sanity

Post Editorial Board

In any case, Bloomberg can do a real public service by representing a moderation that will otherwise be missing from the 2020 din. Win or not, he could have a lasting — and much-needed — impact on American politics.

 

He’s toyed with it time and again, but now former Mayor Michael Bloomberg looks serious about seeking the presidency — with a 2020 run for the Democratic nomination.

We have serious doubts he can pull it off, but here’s hoping Bloomberg goes ahead — particularly since he declared his intention to run as a moderate in an effort to pull the Democratic Party back to the center.

Who knows? Slim as Bloomberg’s chances look, nobody thought Donald Trump would prosper when he came down that escalator three years ago. Maybe another New York billionaire can expose another party’s establishment and ideologues as out of touch.

Besides, Bloomberg has a lot more money than Trump — and will happily spend whatever it takes.

And let’s face it: He did a pretty good job of running New York City for 12 years after taking office at a critical point in its history in the days after 9/11.

Bloomberg’s biggest obstacle, besides his age (he’ll be 78), is that he’s completely out of step with today’s Democratic Party and its increasingly hard-left orientation.

He defends stop-and-frisk, which many Democrats call racist. He’s critical of public unions, especially the teachers, who are a key element of the Democratic base. And he’s a Wall Street billionaire.

Not to mention that he was elected mayor as a Republican and even spoke at the 2004 GOP convention, where he hailed President George W. Bush.

Obviously, we don’t have a problem with any of that. But it’s hard to see the party of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez swallowing that without gagging.

Of course, he’s also long championed (and financed) liberal causes like gun control, abortion rights and combating climate change. And he’s given over $100 million to Democratic candidates this fall, leaving him plenty of chits to call in.

Bloomberg will certainly stand out from the rest of what’s expected to be a huge field of cookie-cutter left-rushing Democratic candidates. And that could be a major advantage.

For all the fiery “woke” rhetoric of most Democrats these days, a large pool of voters are surely unhappy with the direction in which their party is rushing.

He could also attract moderate Republicans (and ex-Republicans) distressed by the Trump movement’s takeover of their party. A lot of alienated voters are now seeking a new political home.

Then again: Is America ready for a nanny president who would try to ban their sugary snacks and sodas?

Of course, Bloomberg has nonideological obstacles, too. For one thing, his media company has a history of sexual-harassment cases. He’ll also have to answer for the shocking NYCHA scandals, many of which began on his watch.

On the other hand, the campaign may also give him a chance to fight back against the smears from Mayor de Blasio, who’s also plainly mulling a White House run.

In any case, Bloomberg can do a real public service by representing a moderation that will otherwise be missing from the 2020 din. Win or not, he could have a lasting — and much-needed — impact on American politics.

New York Post (Estados Unidos)

 



 
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