Centrist Twins

This summer, New York mayor Michael Bloomberg and California governer Arnold Schwarzenegger shared a few centrist photo ops. Now the project is to figure out if Schwarzenegger could be Bloomberg's running mate. The East Coast-West Coast alliance would have its advantages in the Electorial College.

Parts of the Constitution mentions that only a "natural-born Citizen.. shall be eligible for the Office of President." It does not mention the VP. Some say Bloomberg has lawyers studying things like "succession plans" to see how it works: would succession overlook the VP and put Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelios, in the President's seat.

Mayor Bloomberg's aides have been reaching out to consultants from his past campaigns about whether they are free for a possible 2008 White House bid - including one who helped make his slick mayoral TV spots. Bloomberg aides would look to lock up an ad team dovetails with what the mayor has privately told people about how he would spend up to $1 billion of his own fortune on an independent run, which would be played out mostly on the TV airwaves and through direct mail.

The mayor doesn't have to make a decision before March 5. That's the day after the Texas primary elections - but it's also the first date that nominating petitions for an independent candidate in the state can be circulated.

Michael H. Drucker
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