Bloomberg said to be considering independent run for US presidency

Former New York City Mayor and media mogul Michael Bloomberg could yet fulfill his aspiration to become the US president.

Reports over the weekend say he is again exploring a potential bid as an independent.

He is said to believe the opportunity lies in him being a more attractive candidate than either Donald Trump or Bernie Sanders, both of whom espouse extremist positions.

Mr Trump is considered too much of a loose cannon for many moderate Republicans while socialist contender Bernie Sanders could upset front-runner Hillary Clinton, whose popularity is waning.

The Wall Street Journal reports Mr Bloomberg, 73, has retained a consultant to help him run on the independent ballot in state primaries.

He has also commissioned polls to test his path to victory and directed the close circle of advisers who worked for him as mayor to begin mapping out a blueprint for a run.

Concerned about extremism
Senior Republicans questioned over the weekend say Mr Bloomberg, who is liberal on social issues and imposed restrictions on soft drinks while mayor, is more likely to hurt Mrs Clinton than Mr Trump.

Mr Bloomberg is said to be concerned about the extremism from Republicans reflected in Mr Trump’s popularity, while Mrs Clinton has moved left and adopted many anti-business stances.

Mr Bloomberg favours gun control but he is also likely to draw votes for his more conservative record on policing, as well as his background as the owner of a business news service.

Like Mr Trump, he is also wealthy, well known and can fund his own campaign.

One Republican contender, Ohio governor John Kasich, has called Mr Bloomberg a “good mayor” and says he might help raise the level of the presidential debate if he ran.

“Maybe we could have a more serious debate instead of, you know, some of the things we see,” Mr Kasich is quoted as saying. “I like Michael. I mean I’m not endorsing him but I like him.”

Mr Bloomberg is said to have consulted major Democratic donors to assess their support if the race came down to Sanders versus Trump or Senator Ted Cruz, who is also considered to hold extreme views.

Trump's reaction
Asked for his opinion on weekend current affairs TV shows, Mr Trump says he would welcome Mr Bloomberg as an independent candidate.

“I would love that competition,” he said on NBC’s Meet the Press. “I think I would do very well against him. Michael has been a friend of mine over the years. I don’t know if we’re friends anymore, frankly.”

Mr Sanders was less effusive on ABC’s This Week if the race involved two billionaires.

“It will tell people what I have been saying for a long time, is that this country is moving away from democracy to oligarchy, that billionaires are the people who are controlling our political life,” he said.

Also speaking on Meet the Press, Mrs Clinton said: “The way I read what he said is, if I didn’t get the nomination, he might consider it. Well, I’m going to relieve him of that and get the nomination, so he doesn’t have to.”