WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – The New York Times cites sources briefed on his deliberations as saying Bloomberg, 73, has instructed advisers to draw up plans for an independent campaign by early March.
"If it was President [Donald] Trump or President Bloomberg, I’d certainly rather have President Bloomberg," friend of the former mayor, financier and donor to Hillary Clinton’s campaign Alan Patricof, said as quoted by the publication.
The media mogul is willing to spend at least $1 billion of his fortune to challenge outspoken and controversial Republican front-runner Donald Trump and offset Clinton’s "lurch" to the left, influenced by self-described socialist democrat Bernie Sanders.
Clinton trails Sanders in the key primary state of New Hampshire and is neck-and-neck with the Vermont Senator in Iowa.
Bloomberg declined to comment on his possible candidacy, while most of his associates spoke on condition of anonymity.
