Bloomberg visits New Hampshire, fueling 2020 speculation

Former three-term New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg visited New Hampshire Saturday, further fueling speculation that he may run for president in 2020.

Bloomberg, 76, who recently re-registered as a Democrat, told reporters that he is focused on the midterm elections but is keeping open his future political options.

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“Right now I’m focused on Nov. 6, plain and simple,” he said, according to The Associated Press.

But the billionaire owner of Bloomberg News also said “we’ll see what happens down the road,” when asked about his plans after the midterms. 

New Hampshire traditionally hosts the first presidential primary in the country soon after the Iowa caucuses and is seen as a crucial contest for White House hopefuls who want to build early momentum.

Bloomberg visited Nashua to attend a get-out-the-vote rally for state House candidates organized by Moms Demand Action, a grass-roots advocacy group promoting gun control legislation.

The former mayor himself is an outspoken advocate of preventing gun violence and co-founded Mayors Against Illegal Guns in 2006.

He flirted with an independent bid for president in 2016, announcing he would wage a White House campaign if President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE won the GOP nomination and Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersThe Hill’s 12:30 Report: Milley apologizes for church photo-op Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk Biden courts younger voters — who have been a weakness MORE (I-Vt.) won the Democratic nomination.

But when Hillary ClintonHillary Diane Rodham ClintonWhite House accuses Biden of pushing ‘conspiracy theories’ with Trump election claim Biden courts younger voters — who have been a weakness Trayvon Martin’s mother Sybrina Fulton qualifies to run for county commissioner in Florida MORE defeated Sanders in the Democratic primary, Bloomberg shelved his bid.

Asked where he fits in today’s Democratic Party, Bloomberg described himself and the broader party as centrist.

He argued that Democrats are “much more centrist than people understand. They want sensible laws. And what they want is some check and balance on the White House,” according to Concord Monitor reporter Paul Steinhauser, who tweeted a video of the exchange.

Bloomberg has also told House Democratic Leader Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiTrump on collision course with Congress over bases with Confederate names Black lawmakers unveil bill to remove Confederate statues from Capitol Pelosi: Georgia primary ‘disgrace’ could preview an election debacle in November MORE (D-Calif.) that he will help Democratic candidates this fall.

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