Bloomberg / Nunn In 08?

Reporting
Marcia Kramer

Bloomberg / Nunn In 08?

NYC Mayor Takes First Step
In Possible White House Run

NORMAN, Okla. (CBS) ― While the leading Democrats and Republicans are racing around New Hampshire, mayor Michael Bloomberg is in Norman, Oklahoma Sunday on what may be his first public step on the road to the White House.

It was dark when Mayor Bloomberg arrived in Oklahoma, but the spotlight on a possible presidential bid shown brightly.

Bloomberg was one of 17 people - Democrats and Republicans, invited here by former Senator and Oklahoma University president, David Boren to discuss the sorry state of the 2008 presidential campaign.

"If they're going to continue the bickering, then we may need to take a temporary time out from the two parties," said Boren. "We may need to have some shock therapy."

Boren says candidates from both parties have about two months to clean up their act or face a third party candidate who will focus on unity. The unifier he says could very well be Michael Bloomberg.

"I don't think it's something he wants to do, in terms of running for president, but I think it's something, if the two parties don't face up to the challenge, he may feel compelled to do," Boren told CBS 2 HD.

As usual, the mayor played it coy, saying he's simply here to attend the conference.

Former New Jersey governor, Christie Todd Whitman was also a participant, saying, "We're going to hopefully help get the system back on track."

Former Georgia Senator Sam Nunn added, "We believe the country has let partisanship lead to polarization. We need to fight to unwind that."

Boren told CBS 2 HD that if Bloomberg runs, he'd like to see former Georgia Senator, Sam Nunn as his running mate. Nunn would give Bloomberg strength in the South and has a strong foreign policy background.