Richard Whalen

New York’s Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the smartest and richest man in Gotham City, gave Senator Barack Obama a generous, warm introduction before he spoke at historic Cooper Union last week.

While Bloomberg did not endorse him, he gave Obama kudos for coming to New York to discuss the nation’s faltering economy that prompted speculation about a potential ticket with Bloomberg, an independent, as Obama’s running mate.

“I have been very clear in my hope that all the candidates will explain in detail how they will address the great challenges facing our country,” Bloomberg said, adding that leaders need ‘courage’ to address tough issues and that it begins with abandoning ‘hired partisan platitudes or special-interest pandering.’ ”

Bloomberg, who now has made two joint appearances with Obama in the last six months, hasn’t made a similar public appearance with Hillary Clinton or John McCain, his old friend and an early supporter of his 2001 mayoral run.

A dream ticket? Obama has credited Bloomberg with “extraordinary leadership.” The prospect of Bloomberg, whose time in New York is drawing to a close, responding to America’s deepening economic and financial crisis would be a dream come true. As the nation’s “CEO”, he would have the demonstrated expertise and experience to rescue our sinking economy.

Independents are the fastest-growing political group in the U.S. because both major parties have betrayed their core principles and lost their identities. Bloomberg is a one-time Democrat turned Republican who is now a declared Independent.

Obama is pitching himself as the candidate who can appeal to the Bloombergs of the nation. He underscored that point in remarks prepared for the Democratic National Committee fall meeting in a Washington suburb. "I'm attracting more Independents and Republicans to our cause than anyone else in this campaign," Obama said.

Obama/Bloomberg? Bloomberg/Obama? Many now wonder what these two political titans talked about at a mid-town New York Luncheonette prior to Obama’s speech. While we know that the self-financing Bloomberg is a “party of one,” Obama paid for the eggs and potatoes.