Sources: Bloomberg Camp Researches Target States

Sources: Bloomberg Camp
Researches Target States
Aides Also Look Into States That
Have Elected Jewish Officials

Reporting
Marcia Kramer

NEW YORK (CBS) ― Most of the presidential candidates may be freezing in Iowa, but rumored contender Mayor Michael Bloomberg didn't have to leave New York City to capture the presidential buzz.

"While he says he's not a candidate, he's doing everything in his power short of being a candidate to get people to look at him and consider him," said Micheline Blum, a professor at Baruch College.

And sources tell CBS 2 that intimates of Bloomberg have already had discussions about which states to target if he does indeed decide to run.

They include New York, California, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Nevada, Michigan, and Missouri.

And in the last two years, Bloomberg has already raised his national profile by traveling to Cincinnati, Houston, San Francisco, St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, Baltimore, Chicago, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Little Rock, and Miami. He's criss-crossed the country and made over 50 trips out of the city in the last two years.

Sources tell CBS 2 the kitchen cabinet is evaluating Bloomberg's perceived strengths and weaknesses.

"As he jokes, he is the short, Jewish billionaire from New York," said Blum.

How will his religion affect his potential candidacy? Sources say that someone on the Bloomberg campaign has even researched how many states have elected Jews to statewide offices, and concluded that equals about 300 Electoral College votes. That's kosher for Bloomberg, as a candidate only needs 270 to be elected president.

Candidate or not, Bloomberg is traveling to Oklahoma on Sunday to meet with bipartisan bigwigs to urge that the next president rise about partisan gridlock, which could be a potential launching pad for a Bloomberg campaign.

CBS 2's Political Reporter Marcia Kramer will be in Oklahoma keeping WCBSTV.com updated on the latest on a "Mike in '08" potential bid.