February 8, 2008
By Michael M. Grynbaum
New York Times CityRoom blog
Issue: The fast-fading presidential dreams of Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers.
Yes, Senator Chuck Hagel was approached by the mayor about being No. 2 on an independent presidential ticket. Yes, the mayor believes a moderate candidate like John McCain will squeeze him out of the race. Who dished? Mr. Hagel himself.
Our Man in Washington (or, at least, one of them) bumped into the Nebraska cornhusker at the Capitol yesterday. Mr. Hagel was in a chatty mood.
He said that McCain’s emergence as the presumptive nominee essentially closes the window of opportunity for Mr. Bloomberg to mount an independent bid. In his discussions with the mayor, Mr. Hagel said that Mr. Bloomberg noted his viability as a candidate would depend on the ideological makeup of the major party nominees.
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/08/bloomberg-hagel-ticket-fading-fast/?hp