Bloomberg attends the announcement ceremony of the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize in Singapore, March 21, 2012/XINHUA-File
Bloomberg, whose personal wealth is estimated at $25 billion, said he will pony up at least $10 million on candidates in tight election races and to promote his views in referendums on three subjects he holds dear: stricter gun control laws, same-sex marriage and improved education.
“Over the next three weeks, the mayor will be making an eight figure independent spending campaign that will support moderates on both sides of the aisle as well as independents who have shown a willingness to work in a bi-partisan fashion,” said the statement on his website.
The New York City mayor said it was important for Americans to elect officials in Washington, in his state’s capital, Albany, and around the country “who are willing to work across party lines to achieve real results.”
Bloomberg, 70, now a political independent, was a Democrat before running for mayor as a Republican in 2001. He left the Republican party in 2007 and was re-elected for his third term as an independent.
“Over the next three weeks, the mayor will be making an eight figure independent spending campaign that will support moderates on both sides of the aisle as well as independents”
Bloomberg founded the financial news agency that bears his name and is the 10th-richest person in the United States. He is scheduled to leave office next year.
The mayor does not shy from controversial moves, such as his recent decision to fight obesity by limiting the size of individual soft drink portions sold in restaurants.
And the man does not mince his words. He has been highly critical of the tone of the current US presidential campaign.
On Wednesday he described as “gibberish” President Barack Obama and Republican rival Mitt Romney’s responses, at their second debate earlier this week, to a question on banning assault weapons.
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