Bloomberg-Hagel Run Increasingly Unlikely

(AP)  The possibility of Sen. Chuck Hagel joining Mayor Michael Bloomberg on an independent presidential ticket seems to be dimming, with Bloomberg distancing himself on Monday from the Nebraska Republican.

The New York Times reported Saturday about a conversation one of its reporters had last week with Hagel, during which Hagel confirmed he had spoken with Bloomberg in the past about possibly being the billionaire's running mate.

The story contained no direct quotes but paraphrased Hagel as saying the rise of John McCain as the GOP nominee essentially closes Bloomberg's window of opportunity to jump in the race because of McCain's appeal to independents and moderates.

Asked Monday about Hagel's claim that the two have discussed running together, Bloomberg flatly denied that any conversation about those topics ever took place, and portrayed his relationship with Hagel as a distant one.

"I have met him a couple of times ... and I never talked to him once about being the candidate, and certainly not about who, if I were to run, which I'm not, who you would pick," Bloomberg said. "We just never had that conversation."

Hagel's chief of staff, Mike Buttry, said later Monday that the senator's conversation with Times contributor John Harwood had been "overplayed."

Buttry said Hagel did not tell the Times that he had been asked to run with Bloomberg - he only said the two had had "general conversations."

Times spokeswoman Diane McNulty said "we stand by what John Harwood reported Chuck Hagel told him."

The Bloomberg-Hagel speculation began last May when Bloomberg and Hagel shared a not-so-secret dinner in Washington. Then, Hagel said in a television interview that it was time for a third-party candidacy to shake things up. He also mused about the idea of him and Bloomberg running together.

"It's a great country to think about - a New York boy and a Nebraska boy to be teamed up leading this nation," Hagel said last spring.

The pair met up again for dinner last November in Manhattan, have spoken occasionally by phone, and were together for a bipartisan summit last month in Oklahoma.

[bm6005]

What the hell does being a billionaire mogul have to do with being an effective President?
Posted by DVSDen

A self made man unlike your dipshit hero! His companies were successful by his own doing not his daddy''s!! Dipstick couldn''t organize a frickin'' lay off!!

[aldon61]

Mayor Bloomberg''s opportunity comes from the middle. His best bet for success rested with a hard right candidate like Thompson or Romney and a polarizing figure from the left like Clinton. With both McCain''s and Obama''s ability to attract the independent or moderate vote, Bloomberg''s candidacy simply will be doomed for failure. He didn''t make his billions by being dumb as dirt!

[blutopie]

Clue up - Bloomberg is a NEOCON and Hagel is NOT a neocon. Because Hagel is not a warcriminal and sane - he would NEVER join a NEOCON ticket. Hagel HATES neocons, just like me.

Hagel for President? - Right ON! Hagel would NEVER choose Bloomberg as a VP choice. Who ever suggested this?

How about Hagel and Ron Paul? Hagel and Obama? Hagel and Edwards? Hagel and Feingold?

[dvsden]

The ONLY people pushing this Bloomberg run are the NY national media like Lou Dobbs. The country goes through this every two or three election cycles. Ross Perot in 92; Donald Trump in 2000; now Bloomberg. What the hell does being a billionaire mogul have to do with being an effective President?

[glossypan]

Why they don''t like John McCain. Typical McCain outburst - many of them on the Senate floor:
"F**k you! I know more about this than anyone in the room." - John McCain to fellow GOP Senator John Cornyn on the Senate floor on May 18 2007 when Cornyn had the audacity to oppose McCain''s bill granting amnesty to illegal immigrants.