January 15, 2008
Unity '08 Goes Public With Bloomberg Intentions
Leaders of a group that was trying to build a bipartisan presidential ticket are abandoning that effort and cutting to the chase, announcing this morning that they are forming a "Draft Bloomberg" committee.
Republican Doug Bailey, founder of Hotline and once a campaign consultant to Gerald Ford, and Democrat Gerald Rafshoon, a top adviser to Jimmy Carter, will see if they can get New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to do what others have failed to do so far: show his hand.
"I've always assumed that if he really doesn't want to run, he can make that crystal clear to everybody and stop everything that is going on formally and informally on his behalf," Bailey said. "He hasn't done that to us or anybody else as far as I can see."
Bailey said he and Rafshoon have not talked to Bloomberg about their effort -- yet. They plan to start raising money, start an online petition drive and, Bailey said, "see where it goes."
Bailey and Rafshoon stepped away from their grassroots organization, Unity '08, after the Federal Elections Commission placed restrictions on how much individuals could contribute to the effort. The group was trying to gain access to the ballot in all 50 states, an expensive proposition.
A virtual online convention had been planned for June, during which delegates would choose a presidential and vice presidential nominee of different parties; one could be an independent. Unity '08 held several briefings for Bloomberg's aides explaining how the process would work, and Rafshoon and Bailey made it clear they were hoping the billionaire would sign on to the bipartisan campaign.
Bailey said the FEC ruling dashed the hope that the organization could raise enough money to be viable, and once the mission of Unity '08 appeared impossible, Bailey and Rafshoon decided to start aggressively leaning on Bloomberg. The Draft Bloomberg campaign will call for Bloomberg to run as an independent.
"He represents a unique solution to our problems," Bailey said. "We will do everything we can to convince him to run."
NationalJournal.com has a 2006 interview (subscription) with Rafshoon.
Photo: John Brian Silverio
Posted at 10:00 AM
Posted to:
Campaigns, Michael Bloomberg, WH 2008
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