As 2016 presidential hopefuls are starting to bow out of the race during the early days of the primary season, Michael Bloomberg told The Financial Times on Monday, February 8, that he is considering throwing his hat into the ring. 

“I find the level of discourse and discussion distressingly banal and an outrage and an insult to the voters,” the businessman, 73, told the paper about the current state of the race. He added that the public deserves “a lot better.”

According to The New York Times, the billionaire is considering running as an independent candidate. 

The former mayor of New York, who held the office from January 2002 until December 2013, also told The Financial Times that he would have to start including his name on ballots at the beginning of March. “I’m listening to what candidates are saying and what the primary voters appear to be doing,” he said.

But according to The New York Times report from January, there may not be a lot of support for Bloomberg. A poll commissioned by the media executive found that 17 percent of Democrats and 9 percent of Republicans had a favorable view of the former mayor, while half of Republicans and 26 percent of Democrats had an unfavorable view.

David Fuller's view

I certainly hope Michael Bloomberg does run, as it would be good for politics and raise the incredibly low standard among politicians, and not just in the USA.