The Independent View: Bloomberg Starts Independence USA PAC

New York City Mayor, Michael R. Bloomberg, is plunging into the 2012 campaign in its final weeks, creating his own “super PAC” to direct millions of dollars in donations to elect candidates from both parties who he believes will focus on problem solving.

Mr. Bloomberg, a registered independent, expects to spend from $10 million to $15 million of his money in highly competitive Congressional, State and local races. The money would be used to pay for advertising on behalf of Republican and Democratic candidates who support three of his biggest policy initiatives: legalizing same-sex marriage, enacting tougher gun laws, and overhauling schools.

Among those Mr. Bloomberg will support are former Gov. Angus King, an independent running for the United States Senate in Maine; State Senator Gloria Negrete McLeod, who is challenging a fellow Democrat, Representative Joe Baca of California, who the mayor believes has been weak on gun-control; and Representative Bob Dold, a Republican from Illinois who has backed gun-control measures.

The mayor’s super PAC, Independence USA PAC, will be registered with the Federal Election Commission on Thursday. The overwhelming bulk of his money will be given through that PAC, though he may also use existing 527s, to make some donations. Mr. Bloomberg will disclose all of his spending at the end of the election cycle.

Mr. Bloomberg has tapped Howard Wolfson, a deputy mayor and a veteran of Congressional and Presidential campaigns, to oversee the organization’s activities, like determining where to spend money and tailoring the themes of television advertisements. Mr. Wolfson will take a leave from City Hall to run the committee between now and Election Day.

The move reflects an eagerness from Mr. Bloomberg, who is term limited, to help elect more centrist candidates, who are willing to compromise and grapple with what he sees as grave problems confronting the country.

In addition to the state and federal candidates, Mr. Bloomberg will use his organization to support state legislative and local school board candidates who support his education goals, including more rigorous evaluation for teachers and stricter standards for tenure.

Mr. Bloomberg’s political advisers have already identified local candidates he will likely support in California, Colorado and Louisiana. Mr. Bloomberg is also likely to back ballot initiatives in Maine and Washington that seek to legalize same-sex marriage.