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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Carey Campbell (talk | contribs) at 23:20, 17 October 2010 (→2012 relaunch). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

The Draft Bloomberg movement is a political draft movement in the United States that launched in 2007[1] as an effort to convince New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to run for President of the United States as an independent candidate in the 2008 election.[2][3] The movement ended for that election cycle on February 28, 2008, when Bloomberg formally announced that he would not run for President.[4]

The movement relaunched in late 2010 as as an effort to persuade Bloomberg to make a presidential bid in 2012.[5][6]

Support from Independent Greens of Virginia

In January of 2008, the Independent Greens of Virginia launched the first state petition drive in the nation to put Michael Bloomberg on the ballot for President. On April 14 of that year, the Party submitted 10,271 petition signatures with Bloomberg's name to the Virginia State Board of Elections to put the party on the ballot for President in Virginia. The state requires a declaration of candidacy signed by the candidate to officially place a name on the ballot. Bloomberg declined to do so.

Unity08 splinter group

There had been speculation of drafting Bloomberg to run as a presidential candidate on the Unity08 ticket.[7] On January 10, 2008, the organization released a statement announcing that two of its co-founders, Doug Bailey and Gerald Rafshoon, were leaving Unity08 and launching a national draft movement to entice Bloomberg to run as an independent candidate. [8][9]

Support for the movement in 2008

Support for the movement came primarily from independent voters unhappy with the choices the two major parties were offering. Creator of the comic strip Dilbert Scott Adams[10] and entrepreneur Mark Cuban[11] acknowledged the movement on thier respecitve blogs and made favorite comments regarding a potential Bloomberg presidentai campaign. Political consultants Doug Bailey and Gerald Rafshoon quit the Unity08 movement to work to draft Bloomberg.[9]

2012 relaunch

In October 2010, The Committee to Draft Michael Bloomberg announced it was relaunching the movement in hopes of persuading Bloomberg to lead in bringing together Independents, Independence Party and Greens to form America's Third Major Party. Polls show 58% of American's want a Third Major Party in October 2010.[12][6] The Draft Bloomberg Committee choose this approach as Bloomberg has stated that he does not intend to seek the presidency in 2012, the committee members have said they are not discouraged by the Mayor's denial of interest, and that they plan to persist in the effort to encourage him to lead in creating the nation's third major party.[13]

The press release for the October 14, 2010 press conference at the National Press Club in the Bloomberg room did not discuss drafting Bloomberg for President. Over 30 Independents, Independent Greens, and Green Party candidates participated in person or by speaker phone. Green Party candidates talked about their campaigns positive solutions. [14]

When: Thursday, October 14, 2010 - 1:00 to 3:00 pm

Where: National Press Club: the Bloomberg Room

What: Committee to Draft Michael Bloomberg, America's leading Independent to lead in forming America's Third Major Party.

Who: Committee to Draft Michael Bloomberg, Independent Green, and Green Party candidates on the ballot in 2010.

How: Combine Independents, Independence and Green Parties to create America's Third Major Party.

This Press Conference and forum features Green Party candidates on the ballot eager to join Michael Bloomberg and Independents to turn the Green Party into America's Third Major Party. Many Green Party local, state, and federal candidates on the ballot will be introduced. They will discuss their campaigns and positive solutions in 2010.

See also

References

  1. ^ Gardiner, Jill (2007-09-25) "Draft Bloomberg Group Sees Many Signs of Growth", New York Sun. Retrieved 2010-10-14.
  2. ^ Molla, Rani (2008-01-14) "Draft Bloomberg Movement Launched", Time. Retrieved 2010-05-01.
  3. ^ DeSio, John (2008-01-31) "Let's Run for President! Draft Bloomberg Web Site Draws Little Support", The Village Voice. Retrieved 2010-10-14.
  4. ^ Bloomberg, Michael R. (2008-02-28) "I’m Not Running for President, but...", The New York Times Retrieved 2010-10-14.
  5. ^ Fermino, Jennifer (2010-10-09) "Dispatches from the campaign trail", New York Post. Retrieved 2010-10-12.
  6. ^ a b Saul, Michael Howard (2010-10-14) "Bloomberg Supporters Plot Draft", The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2010-10-14.
  7. ^ Kraushaar, Josh (2007-06-20) "Unity08 and Bloomberg: Perfect marriage?", Politico. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
  8. ^ Benjamin, Elizabeth (2008-01-10) "Unity08 To Jump On Bloomberg Bandwagon?", New York Daily News. Retrieved 2010-10-15.
  9. ^ a b Danis, Kirsten (2008-01-11). "Two from presidential reform group quit to draft Mayor Bloomberg for 2008 bid". New York: NYDailyNews.com. Retrieved 2008-01-11. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  10. ^ Adams, Scott (2007-12-17) "Good Judgement", Dilbert.Blog. Retrieved 2010-10-14.
  11. ^ Cuban, Mark (2008-02-08) "My Presidential Endorsement", Blog Maverick, The Mark Cuban Weblog. Retrieved 2010-10-14.
  12. ^ Fermino, Jennifer (2010-10-09) "Dispatches from the campaign trail", New York Post. Retrieved 2010-10-15.
  13. ^ (2010-10-14) "Bloomberg: I’m Not Running For President", CBS New York. Retrieved 2010-10-15.
  14. ^ [>Results, State Board of Elections.


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