Republican candidate Tom Tancredo says New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg could shake up the presidential race if Bloomberg decides to run as an Independent. Last week, Bloomberg — a billionaire many times over — switched his voter registration from Republican to Independent and fueled speculation he might bankroll an Independent campaign for the White House, just like another wealthy businessman — Ross Perot — did in 1992.
"He’s got all of the potential, plus he’s even taller than Ross Perot. I’m not so, you know, I can say things like that," Tancredo says. "(Bloomberg’s) got enough money to make a race out of it. When you look at a 14 percent approval rating for congress and a 28 percent for the president, people are certainly looking for something and if he offers it, he’ll take a lot of people with him."
Tancredo suggests Bloomberg would actually be good for whomever Republicans nominate because Tancredo contends Bloomberg would steal support away from the Democratic party’s presidential nominee in 2008.
Tancredo’s signature issue has been an adamant opposition to illegal immigration and the immigration reform bill he opposes may be revived in the U.S. Senate this week. "But I think it’s going to go down to the wire. It may be that we can actually stop it over there," Tancredo says. "I think it’s a 50/50 chance of that. God, am I hoping."
If the bill clears the Senate, Tancredo plans to change his campaign plans and travel to House districts around the country where supporters of the immigration reform bill live, in hopes of building public pressure on those House members to vote against the legislation.
"I absolutely will fight this as hard as I’ve fought anything since I’ve been in Congress," Tancredo says. "…This really is, I think, one of the most disastrous pieces of legislation I’ve seen since I’ve been there."
Tancredo made his comments Sunday night during a stop at the Butler County Fair.