Bloomberg's Shadow Candidacy

New York mayor Michael Bloomberg is still considering a presidential run, encouraged by recent rough stretches for the front-runners in both parties, the Wall Street Journal reports. He’ll decide after primary season, but sources say Hizzoner is encouraged by congressional gridlock, which may endear voters to his nonpartisan message, and rising national concern over economic issues, a Bloomberg forte.

An independent bid would attempt to feed off of major-party candidates’ negative ratings, so a Hillary/Rudy race would be the most conducive to a Bloomberg run. Bloomberg—who could spend $1 billion of his own fortune on a race—is seen as less likely to run against Barack Obama, whose "postpartisan" message mirrors his own, or Mitt Romney, who shares his businessman-cum-politician image. (More Michael Bloomberg stories.)