Could Michael Bloomberg challenge Hillary Clinton for president?

Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg hasn't announced a bid for the White House in 2016, but sources told the New York Post that a group of unnamed New York Democrats want to convince Bloomberg to run.

According to the Post, Clinton has a lead among Democrats because the field lacks "a credible challenger." Sources told the Post that Democrats have approached Bloomberg to "gauge his interest" about a 2016 run. One Democrat told the Post the plan might work because Bloomberg "can't stand" Clinton.

While nothing is for certain — one source told the Post he was optimistic because Bloomberg "didn't throw him out of the office" during their meeting — Bloomberg has expressed interest in the White House in the past. In 2008, the Post notes, Bloomberg sponsored polls and said he would run for president as an independent candidate. But a source who met with Bloomberg told the Post that the former mayor said it would be "no problem" for him to become a Democrat once again.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up