A Major Independent Candidate?

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A Major Independent Candidate?
The Two Billionaires
Neither one ended up running but there was a bit of buzz for a while...

Donald Trump
Donald Trump began to be mentioned as a possible candidate in early Oct. 2010 following a report by Time's Mark Halperin that Trump's name had been tested in New Hampshire polling.  Trump was open to the notion of running in several interviews in the days that followed (see FOX on Oct. 5).  By Jan. 3, 2011, according to a report on Newsmax.com by Ronald Kessler, Trump was "telling friends he has decided he will definitely run for president as a Republican."  Talk of a Trump campaign picked up markedly following his star appearance at CPAC in February 2011.  Trump, who described himself as "very conservative," said he would make a decision about a possible run in June after his reality show "Celebrity Apprentice" finished.  With his brash persona and pronouncements on the "birther" issue Trump overshadowed many other Republican prospects.  He made a couple of visits to New Hampshire in April and May, and had set June appearances in New Hampshire at the Politics & Eggs breakfast and in Iowa at the Republican Party of Iowa's Lincoln Dinner before before ruling out a campaign for the Republican nomination on May 16, 2011. 

Although Trump nixed a GOP bid he continued to express interest in an independent bid.  In an April 11, 2011 interview on WSJ.com, Trump addressed the prospect of an independent candidacy, assuming he runs but does not win the Republican primary.  He pointed to polls showing him gaining 29% as an independent and said he "could possibly win as an independent." 

Trump was announced as moderator of a Republican presidential candidate debate to be held in the lead up to the Iowa caucuses, but that event fell through.  Speculation about an independent bid continued into the first part of 2012; for example a Jan. 30, 2012 ABC News article described Trump aide Michael Cohen as exploring possibilities.  On Feb. 2, 2012, Trump endorsed Mitt Romney.

Donald Trump - Chairman and CEO of the Trump Organization, which he founded in 1971.  Author of more than a dozen books.  Host and executive producer of the NBC reality show "The Apprentice."  Considered seeking the Reform Party presidential nomination in 2000.  Started his business career in an office he shared with his father, Fred, in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, and worked there for five years.  B.S. from University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School in 1968, after attending Fordham University.  Born June 14, 1946 in Queens, NY.  
Official: Trump Organization.  Independent Sites: Should Trump Run? | Draft Trump 2012 

Michael Bloomberg
Despite New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg's repeated disavowals of interest in a presidential run he was subject of speculation in the early part of the 2012 cycle.  Bloomberg was also a subject of this kind of speculation from 2006 to early 2008.  For a while Northern Virginians Carey Campbell and Gail for Rail Parker had a modest draft effort going. 

Mayor Michael Bloomberg - Elected Mayor of New York City in 2001 and re-elected in 2005 and 2009.  Founder and owner of Bloomberg LP.  Worked for Salomon Brothers investment bank until it merged in 1981.  M.B.A. from Harvard Business School, 1966.  Undergraduate degree in engineering from Johns Hopkins University, 1964.  Born Feb. 14, 1942 in Boston, MA.
Draft Michael Bloomberg 2012 (independent site)  | Mike Bloomberg (official site)

See:
John H. Richardson.  "Mike Bloomberg Will Save Us from Ourselves If Only We Let Him."  Esquire.  Feb. 2011.

Ralph Nader.  "21 Reasons Michael Bloomberg Can Be Elected President in 2012."  The Daily Beast.  Dec. 9, 2010.

Jason Horowitz.  "He won't run, but keep asking."  The Washington Post.  Nov. 18, 2010.

Howard Fineman.  "Michael Bloomberg & Joe Scarborough: The Independent Odd Couple."  The Huffington Post.  Nov. 16, 2010.

Ben McGrath.  "Bloomberg, 2012?"  New Yorker.  Nov. 15, 2010.