NPR: Candidate Bingo: How to Tell If Bloomberg Is Running

Candidate Bingo: How to Tell If Bloomberg Is Running

There's been a lot of speculation recently about New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg running for president as an independent. Bloomberg keeps denying that this is so, but his surrogates and supporters keep giving off signals that the multi-billionaire is seriously considering a bid.

So NPR's Robert Smith decided to tail Bloomberg for a week to see if he could spot the "tells" signaling a possible Bloomberg candidacy. Robert even used an ingenious method devised by NPR to help him in mission: Candidate Bingo!

Some of the candidate-like activities on our bingo card that can earn you a square include: "Follow NASCAR," "Smile Constantly," "Kiss Babies."

But it looks like Robert won't be jumping up and shouting "Bingo!" anytime soon. Based on the his performance during the week he was observed, Bloomberg passed up one opportunity after another to act like a candidate. As Robert reports:

"Mayor Bloomberg doesn't exude the populist touch. He didn't talk NASCAR or eat junk food. In fact, when faced with a buffet table of sweets, he opted for an eighth of a pumpernickel bagel. Another big test was at the firefighter graduation. The room was filled with adorable babies. Adorable babies of firefighters. What politician could resist? Bloomberg didn't smooch a one of them."

Obviously if Bloomberg is going to run for office, he's going to have shake up his image and kiss a few babies.

You can track Bloomberg or anyone else you think might be considering a bid for the oval office (or any other office for that matter), by printing off your own copy of our handy-dandy Candidate Bingo card.

9:07 AM ET | 01-18-2008 | permalink

Comments

The chriteria used above to define a possible run of a candidate was not convincing, kinda cheesy.
If he is to run as a third party, he must be different from the rest , almost in every aspect,beside he is NOT stupid.

Sent by resimc | 11:15 AM ET | 01-18-2008

Draft Mike! Go to www.draftbloomberg.com

Sent by AMac | 4:33 PM ET | 01-18-2008

This is my second comment here.
If you check PICTURE IN THIS LINK from npr itself
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18202252
it is contradicting your article but it also contradict my first comment here.

Sent by resimc | 6:01 PM ET | 01-18-2008

Please believe, and understand that Mike Huckabee IS indeed a good an honest man. I am about as cynical as they come, and I have got to tell you that I have yet to see any credible evidence of serious wrongdoing on his part. As I mentioned earlier, Mike is the ONLY candidate who has taken a stand on FAMILY RIGHTS, in that he believes parents raise better kids than governments. There is an ever-increasing trend towards courts removing innocent Children and Elderly from their homes and loving families, and forcing them into Foster Care and Nursing Homes. In many cases, the courts terminiate parental rights and deem truly competent seniors as being incompetent. Once the court's "rubber stamp" is applied their assets are taken by the State and the individual is a ward of the Court...take a look at: www.savegrandma.org AND http://youtube.com/watch?v=NYctAMdpG0U. AND http://www.abusiveguardianships.com/ AND http://www.nysun.com/comment_send.php ....These are just a few good examples...If you google "abusive guardianships" or american family rights association, etc. you'll find plenty. In any event, www.savegrandma.org is one heck of a story...there is video....and audio taped evidence of the human services worker harassing a little old lady in the hospital! Yes, a state worker...
This is just one of many issues and let me tell you, MIKE HUCKABEE is the ONLY candidate who can both WIN and will address these issues...Please, for your family's sake...for your sake...support MIKE HUCKABEE.

Sent by John Wilson | 6:56 PM ET | 01-21-2008

If one thinks about it, the best possible candidate for the Presidency is truly Ron Paul. America, and the world for this matter are undergoing a serious economic train wreck. In my opinion, this is due to many filed policies of the past. The monetary system is due for an overhaul. The foreign policy of intervention in foreign affairs has led America to the brink. And politically, the original intent of the founding fathers has been circumvented for the sake of a "profit potential". Ron Paul addresses all of these issues and presents a "radical" but legitimate argument for "real" change. Ron Paul is the George Washington of our day. http://ronpaul2008.com

Sent by Joseph Brewer | 6:52 AM ET | 01-22-2008

Sent by Joseph Brewer: Ron Paul is the George Washington of our day.

I have to respectfully disagree.

Ron Paul is more like the Abraham Lincoln of our day.

Maybe a little like the Teddy Roosevelt of our day.

But as far as I know, Ron Paul has never chopped down a cherry tree.

Nor does Ron Paul have wooden teeth, far as I know.

But, if you can prove that Ron Paul has wooden teeth, even though he has never chopped down a cherry tree (or crossed the Potomac in a wooden boat on Xmas Eve), then I will give you that Ron Paul is...well....kind of like the George Washington of our day.

Between Ron Paul and Hillary, this is the wackiest election year since Tippacanoe and Tyler Too.

fred camorra call

Sent by fred camorra call | 12:42 PM ET | 01-22-2008

Mr. Bloomberg's support goes beyond New York. Jon Fisher, a 35-year-old technology entrepreneur in Tiburon, Calif., said Mr. Bloomberg's background appeals to him. "Business experience, and specifically this kind of entrepreneurial business experience, is exactly the skill set we need in a president," said Mr. Fisher, who sold his most recent venture, Bharosa, to technology giant Oracle Corp. last year.

Mr. Fisher, a Democrat, is inviting others who have sold companies to Oracle to a meeting in Tiburon at the end of the month. The goal, Mr. Fisher said, is to recruit people willing to dedicate time and effort to a Bloomberg campaign. (Mr. Bloomberg would presumably fund his campaign himself, making fund-raising unnecessary.)

Sent by Fisher | 4:57 PM ET | 01-28-2008

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