Jan 7, 2008 9:09 pm US/Eastern
Bloomberg In Oklahoma: America Is Being Held Back
Calm, Cool & Collected NYC Mayor Jokes About OU Football
NORMAN, Okla. (CBS) ―
Seventeen men and women have gathered in Oklahoma to discuss the bitter partisanship bickering of the 2008 presidential campaign.
At the center of the meeting, is New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and whether he'll run for the White House.
Andrew McRae of the "Unite For Mike" campaign wants to draft Bloomberg for president.
"He's really pragmatic," said McRae, an Arlington, Va., resident. "He's got a lot of business sense, and he cuts across partisan divide and he also delivers results."
A woman who spoke to CBS 2 HD wants to draft Bloomberg, too.
"We're encouraging Michael to run for office," said Gale Parker, also of Alexandria, Va.
Maybe having people around who believe in his campaign put Bloomberg in a good mood because there he was at a serious presidential forum joking about how the Oklahoma University football team won't play New York schools.
"I don't know whether they're afraid or whether it's just too far, but I will point out that OU has never tried to schedule a game with St. John's, Fordham, NYU, Columbia."
Bloomberg didn't announce a run for president, but for some it sounded like he was trying out a presidential stump speech.
"America is being held back," Bloomberg said. "Our country and our people are being hurt by current government policies."
At the forum, Bloomberg and the others demanded that the 2008 presidential contenders commit to finding bipartisan solutions and picking a bipartisan cabinet. If they don't, some predicted a third party candidacy with Bloomberg as the likely nominee.
"I don't think the mayor wants to run," said Oklahoma University President David Boren. "Does that mean the mayor would never run if he still views the system as failing? I think he's a good American and I don't think he would close the door on it if he thought it was his duty."
Please stay with CBS 2 HD and wcbstv.com for more on this developing story.
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