Is Bloomberg Moving Toward Picking A Side?

By: Steve Chaggaris
Topics: Michael Bloomberg

From CBS News Director of Political Coverage Steve Chaggaris:

Mayor Michael Bloomberg, I-New York City, will give political junkies another opportunity to guess who, if anyone, he'll endorse in the presidential race when he delivers a speech at an Independence Party of Minnesota fundraiser Friday morning.

Bloomberg, who'll talk about independent leadership in the context of this year's campaign, is expected to stop short of making a formal endorsement at the $100-per-person fundraiser in Minneapolis, which benefits the Independence Party's slate of candidates in Minnesota.

Meantime, CBS News has learned that during a stop in Minnesota two weeks ago, John McCain met with the party's chairman, Craig Swaggert.

Swaggert has nothing but praise for McCain and the image, disputed by Democrats, that the Arizona senator doesn't vote in lockstep with his party.

"McCain has an independent streak, when you look at his record," Swaggert said. "On important issues, he has regularly taken a stance that's contrary to his party's stance."

As for Barack Obama, Swaggert says he's not sold on Obama's call for change.

"I'm a bit of a skeptic. He excites me because he speaks of change but that diminishes when I look at his record."

Bloomberg is on the record praising both Obama and McCain and has appeared on the same stage as both in recent months.

However, one source with knowledge of the upcoming fundraiser tells CBS News it's highly doubtful Bloomberg's remarks would be at odds with his pro-McCain hosts.

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by standlee5 July 26, 2008 3:26 AM EDT: bloomberg, who cares.; Reply to this comment


by reunionpi July 25, 2008 7:00 PM EDT: New York Mayor Bloomberg''s companies allowed numerous tax warrants, tax liens, Department of Labor judgments to occur that are scattered across the country from California to New York
Here are just several

http://webofdeception.com/#bloomberg; Reply to this comment


by ragnar30066 July 25, 2008 1:36 AM EDT: Hey, get off John Edwards'' back. At least he was with a girl, and not with an older man.

That reminds me, what was the name of the guy that Obama spent so much time with when he was younger? You know, the guy who liked to do young mixed breed boys while indoctrinating them in Marxism.; Reply to this comment


by aldon61 July 24, 2008 3:06 PM EDT: And if you NeoConservatives want to spew more hate%u2026bring it on, because John McCain has plenty of other skeletons in his closet.

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Posted by IndyVet66 at 09:27 AM : Jul 24, 2008

According to Wikipedia, McCain had "multiple" adultries while in Florida. Great "family values" guy isn''t he?; Reply to this comment


by indyvet66 July 24, 2008 12:27 PM EDT: Where did the nasty personal attack on Edwards come from.

Nice spam job.
Please, though, allow me to retort.

When he got back from Vietnam, McCain flat-out dumped his disabled first wife and 3 kids like hot rocks for Cindy - a younger (15 years) and much richer model. So much for McCain%u2019s ethics and morality.

McCain%u2019s wife Cindy stole drugs from her charity to feed her drug habit. She committed a felony, was investigated and prosecuted by the DEA and was placed into a diversion and rehab program.

If a hospital nurse or Doctor stole drugs like this, he or she would still be in prison %u2013 guess it pays to be the Senator%u2019s wife.

Maybe McCain is still mad at her. He angrily and publicly called Cindy a C_nt (a very nasty word that rhymes with %u201CRunt%u201D) in front of his campaign staff and reporters. Specifically, Cindy McCain playfully twirled McCain%u2019s hair and said %u201CYou%u2019re getting a little thin up there.%u201D McCain angrily responded by saying %u201CAt least I don%u2019t plaster on the makeup like a trollup, you c_nt.%u201D

And if you NeoConservatives want to spew more hate%u2026bring it on, because John McCain has plenty of other skeletons in his closet.; Reply to this comment


by trbundro1277 July 24, 2008 3:43 AM EDT: My own poll.
Does anyone care who Bloomberg endorses?
Posted by kansas1946 at 08:18 PM : Jul 23, 2008
*** No! Who cares what he thinks! The only thing good that would even come from Bloombergs endorsement, might be some campaign cash. If he Endorsed Mccain, I will hate mccain that much more! I hate amnesty mccain!; Reply to this comment