Former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg says he is considering an independent run at the U.S. presidency.
In an interview with the Financial Times, the billionaire said that he was “looking at all the options.”
Bloomberg is unimpressed with how the current Republican and Democratic campaigns are being conducted.
“I find the level of discourse and discussion distressingly banal and an outrage and an insult to the voters,” Bloomberg told the Financial Times, before adding that the American public deserved “a lot better”.
Last month, the New York Times reported that Bloomberg had asked his advisers to create a plan for his potential candidacy. Sources told the paper that he would be willing to spend at least $1 billion US of his $39 billion fortune on his potential campaign.
READ MORE: Former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg eyeing independent White House bid
The New York Times report said that Bloomberg was worries by Hillary Clinton’s wobbly campaign and the emergence of socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders. He was also reported to be ‘galled’ by Donald Trump’s significance in the Republican campaign.
Bloomberg reportedly conducted polling in December to test the waters of his candidacy and it was believed he would do another round before the New Hampshire caucus.
The 73-year-old told the Financial Times that he would need to get his name on the ballots in early March in order to make a serious run.
“I’m listening to what candidates are saying and what the primary voters appear to be doing,” he told the British newspaper.
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