NYT article
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg of New York announced this evening that he was quitting the Republican Party and changing his political affiliation to independent.
The announcement came after Mr. Bloomberg gave a speech denouncing partisan gridlock in Washington, stirring renewed speculation that he is preparing to run for president in 2008 as an independent or third-party candidate.
“I have filed papers with the New York City Board of Elections to change my status as a voter and register as unaffiliated with any political party,” he said in a statement issued while he was in California delivering political speeches.
“Although my plans for the future haven’t changed, I believe this brings my affiliation into alignment with how I have led and will continue to lead our city,” the mayor said.
Mr. Bloomberg, a billionaire businessman, is a former Democrat who won the New York City mayoralty in 2001 by running as a Republican against Mark Green, the Democratic candidate. He easily won re-election in 2005.
The mayor, who cannot by law seek a third consecutive term, has said he had no plans to run for president, but he has declined to shut the door completely on a White House bid.
“We have achieved real progress by overcoming the partisanship that too often puts narrow interests above the common good,” Mr. Bloomberg said in his statement. “As a political independent, I will continue to work with those in all political parties to find common ground, to put partisanship aside and to achieve real solutions to the challenges we face”
He added: “Any successful elected executive knows that real results are more important than partisan battles and that good ideas should take precedence over rigid adherence to any particular political ideology. Working together, there s no limit to what we can do.”
....
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg of New York announced this evening that he was quitting the Republican Party and changing his political affiliation to independent.
The announcement came after Mr. Bloomberg gave a speech denouncing partisan gridlock in Washington, stirring renewed speculation that he is preparing to run for president in 2008 as an independent or third-party candidate.
“I have filed papers with the New York City Board of Elections to change my status as a voter and register as unaffiliated with any political party,” he said in a statement issued while he was in California delivering political speeches.
“Although my plans for the future haven’t changed, I believe this brings my affiliation into alignment with how I have led and will continue to lead our city,” the mayor said.
Mr. Bloomberg, a billionaire businessman, is a former Democrat who won the New York City mayoralty in 2001 by running as a Republican against Mark Green, the Democratic candidate. He easily won re-election in 2005.
The mayor, who cannot by law seek a third consecutive term, has said he had no plans to run for president, but he has declined to shut the door completely on a White House bid.
“We have achieved real progress by overcoming the partisanship that too often puts narrow interests above the common good,” Mr. Bloomberg said in his statement. “As a political independent, I will continue to work with those in all political parties to find common ground, to put partisanship aside and to achieve real solutions to the challenges we face”
He added: “Any successful elected executive knows that real results are more important than partisan battles and that good ideas should take precedence over rigid adherence to any particular political ideology. Working together, there s no limit to what we can do.”
....
