Bloomberg Quits G.O.P., Stirring Talk About ’08 Race

Adam Nagourney reports for the New York Times:

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg of New York announced this evening  that he was  quitting the Republican Party and changing his political affiliation to independent.

The announcement came after Mr. Bloomberg gave a speech denouncing partisan gridlock in Washington, stirring renewed speculation that he is preparing to run for president in 2008 as an independent or third-party candidate.

...Mr. Bloomberg’s decision to leave the Republican Party and become an independent was immediately viewed by many of his prospective rivals as a major jolt to the presidential campaign. Mr. Bloomberg has never shown any reluctance to use his huge personal fortune to advance his career. He spent more than $150 million on his two bids for mayor, and he would have no problem financing his own presidential campaign.

What is more, Mr. Bloomberg has arguably at least as strong a claim on New York City’s  prosperity as his predecessor, Rudolph W. Giuliani, who is seeking the Republican nomination. If Mr. Bloomberg decides to run as an independent or third-party candidate, he might find that he enjoys the benefits of New York City’s successes without the ideological burdens that Mr. Giuliani has faced in trying to win the Republican nomination while being identified with such positions as supporting abortion, gay rights and gun control.

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