Why Michael Bloomberg wanted Hillary Clinton to run for mayor of New York

Hillary Clinton has served as first lady, senator, and secretary of state. Would she really want to be mayor of New York City?

(Image credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

last updated 8 January 2015

Hillary Clinton's post-State Department future has long been the subject of intense speculation. She would likely be the frontrunner in the 2016 presidential race (even though she has spent years adamantly denying any interest in another White House run), boasting a resume — secretary of state, senator, first lady — that would make her one of the most qualified candidates in modern presidential history. Others have suggested that Clinton might lead the World Bank or join the Supreme Court. But Michael Bloomberg apparently has a better idea: She should succeed him as the mayor of New York City. And Hizzonah actually went so far as to urge Clinton to run, says Michael Barbaro at The New York Times:

In a phone call confirmed by three people, Mr. Bloomberg encouraged Mrs. Clinton to consider entering the 2013 mayor’s race, trading international diplomacy for municipal management on the grandest scale. She would, he suggested, be a perfect fit.

Rival his stature! Sure, Bloomberg is an important figure in American politics, but Clinton is a global icon and one of the most powerful women on the planet. And while running New York involves much more than making sure the garbage is picked up on time, it's definitely a step down from helping negotiate a truce between Hamas and Israel or becoming the first high-ranking American official to meet Aung San Suu Kyi. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Clinton reportedly made it crystal clear that she was not interested.