Former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg reportedly considering presidential run

The ideal scenario for a Bloomberg candidacy would be for Trump or Cruz to get the Republican nomination and Sanders to emerge as the Democratic candidate.

“We have differing views, and I want to be the conservative candidate to lead the conservative party into the general election”, Bush said on CNN’s “State of the Union”.

“The way I read what he said is if I didn’t get the nomination, he might consider (running)”, she said on NBC’s “Meet the Press”.

Bloomberg’s associates say he is particularly concerned about the domination of the Republican contest by another billionaire, flamboyant NY real estate mogul Donald Trump, someone Bloomberg has known for two decades, and also is anxious about the outcome of the Democratic race.

“Absolutely not”, she said.

Bloomberg changed his affiliation from Republican to independent in 2007 and has considered running on a third-party ticket in previous presidential elections, but has never put plan into action.

Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg (center) and Donald Trump (right) with Joe Torre at the 2008 Joe Torre Safe at Home Foundation Golf Classic at Trump National Golf Club.

Bloomberg was a three-term mayor of NY, twice as a Republican and finally as an independent, and is the founder and majority owner of Bloomberg LP, parent of Bloomberg News.

A new poll showed Mr Trump was gaining support in Iowa, the first state to vote on Feb 1.

The senator said: “If we have the kind of turnout that I hope we can, then we’re going to win here in Iowa”.

On Sunday, Mrs Clinton said a Bloomberg White House run would not be necessary. And, one of Bloomberg’s advisers told me, “He is just as concerned about Cruz and Sanders as he is Trump”.

Weiner, whose wife Huma Abedin is a long-time aide for Hillary Clinton, suggested that a lot of people may be girding themselves for the possibility of a Trump vs. Sanders general election. They met privately at Bloomberg’s offices a few months before Clinton announced her campaign last April, before an event announcing a philanthropic initiative to measure and track data about issues affecting women and girls. He also tried to ban oversized sodas during his tenure as New York City mayor.

In other words, if you are Michael Bloomberg: If the GOP and Democrats are fielding weak candidates, a third party run becomes viable.

“We feel very positive about the momentum that’s gaining as we get closer to the caucuses”, Rubio told Fox News Sunday, touting his endorsements from Iowa newspapers.

“Hillary and Jeb are the only two who know how to make the trains run”, Bloomberg said, after receiving honorary knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II.