Spin Cycle

What a comedown!

Once, it was going to be Clinton vs. Giuliani vs. Bloomberg for the presidency.

Now, it's speculation about whether Clinton and Bloomberg will get the consolation prize.

A source "close to" Bloomberg, speaking to NYMag, maintains that when the mayor and McCain lunched a week ago they discussed the v-p slot, and Bloomberg is very much on the short list. This, of course, comes after some flame-fanning on the possibility of Bloomberg being a possible Obama vp, too.

There is every reason for Bloomberg's circle to keep this speculation alive -- otherwise, he's just an irrelevant lame duck who has spent his mayoralty getting outmaneuvered by Sheldon Silver on matters ranging from the Olympics and a stadium to congestion pricing.

The latest veep idea is supposedly that Bloomberg could campaign as an expert on the economy, burnishing McCain's weak credentials; would help in Florida, presumably because he's Jewish, and in NJ, California and Pa. for reasons that aren't clear; and even up the money with the Dems by spending part of his own fortune. The Obama idea is similar: Bloomberg is experienced, Jews are everywhere, and Bloomberg could put some money in the pot.

Of course: A pro-choicer would make the GOP right even less enthusiastic about McCain. And Bloomberg's unhedged stance on guns would pretty much kill the deal for Obama with those voters in Pennsylvania. And -- he's a Republican! So, it probably won't happen.

As for Hillary, we mentioned yesterday some buzz that Bill was pushing for her to get an offer. Today, that buzz seems to be confirmed, with the Times weighing in and the NYPost giving it the cover.

Bill's logic, theoretically: “If she’s not going to be the nominee, then he wants her in the second spot. In the long run, it’s the best way for her to run again in 2016.”

Others say it's the strongest ticket. Hillary backer Dianne Feinstein: "I am one that believes that if it works out that Senator Obama is the nominee, the strongest ticket would be Senator Clinton as vice president. No question in my mind. Because the constituencies in the votes are different.... The weight of the states he carried versus the states she carried. It's different. And, therefore, if you combine them both, you've got the best electoral path."

Absolutely! If you've got the bad judgment to authorize the war in Iraq, you're qualified to be vice-president instead of president. And a great way for Obama to show how serious he is about change would be to pick the person he has portrayed as a symbol of the status quo for five months. Why should substance matter?

Of course, there are other possibilities here. The Clintons may just want the flattery of having the veep slot offered so she can turn it down. Or, they may just be floating this story to occupy everyone and convince everyone that she's given up while she continues to lobby superdelegates, spread anger and resentment in her base, and maneuver Florida and Michigan back into the count so she can have what she really wants.

Which is not the second slot.