Bloomberg considering presidential bid
Billionaire businessman and former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Monday that he found the current campaign to be 'an insult to the voters.'
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg speaks to reporters after his meeting with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden at the White House in Washington, in this file photo taken February 27, 2013. Bloomberg said he is considering running for U.S. president in 2016, the Financial Times reported on Monday.
REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/Files
Manchester, N.H.
Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg says he is considering mounting an independent campaign for president.
Bloomberg told The Financial Times on Monday that he was "looking at all the options" when it comes to a bid.
The billionaire businessman said he found the current campaign to be "an insult to the voters."
It's the first time he acknowledged a possible run.
Bloomberg's aides floated the idea last month that the former mayor could fill a gap in the center of the political spectrum.
He is distressed by the rise of Donald Trump and Texas Senator Ted Cruz among Republicans and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders among Democrats.
Bloomberg was a Democrat before becoming a Republican to run for mayor in 2001. He then became an independent.
Shortly after Bloomberg's comment, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie made closing remarks at his last town hall in Manchester: "I've got a flight to South Carolina Wednesday morning, and I intend to take it," he said. "I want you all to send me off as your guy."
Christie said he wants to leave New Hampshire knowing that its voters "met me, got to see me, I opened my heart to them and they opened their hearts to me, and we made history together."
He asked supporters to offer friends, neighbors and relatives rides to the polls.
"I'll tell you one last thing, I'm gonna be president of the United States," he said.