CONCORD: New York
business tycoon Michael Bloomberg has paved the way for a shot at the US
presidency, registering as a candidate in the Alabama Democratic primary race
before Friday's filing deadline. 
Although the 77-year-old billionaire has not publicly announced his run,
his inclusion among a crowded field kept his options open for mounting a
concerted bid to topple a fellow New Yorker, President Donald Trump.

Analysts say a
Bloomberg candidacy could do the most damage to the prospects of frontrunner
Joe Biden, but the former vice president put on a brave face Friday and said he
was not worried Bloomberg would draw away centrist voters. Bloomberg's name was
posted among 17 candidates on the Alabama Democratic Party's website only hours
before registration closed.

Alabama is not
one of the early primaries but it has the earliest deadline to register. Biden,
who will also turn 77 on November 20, has placed himself in the political center
with South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, while Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and
Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren run to his left. "Michael's a solid
guy," Biden told reporters in Concord, New Hampshire, while registering to
take part in the February primary in the northeastern state.

"I have no,
no problem with him getting in the race," Biden said. "And in terms
of he's running because of me, last polls I looked at I'm pretty far ahead.
"If I'm not mistaken I'm doing pretty well, both relative to Trump and
relative to all the people running," he said. Jason Mollica of American
University said the entry of Bloomberg in the race could be "an indication
that he believes the Democrats do not have a strong candidate that can defeat
President Trump."

"Mr Biden's
campaign isn't the strength it was at the start and if Mr Bloomberg gains the
support of the centrists in the Democratic Party, that is a big sign for Mr
Biden the party doesn't feel he's the right candidate, either," Mollica
said. Kyle Kondik of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia said
a Bloomberg run could conceivably draw support away from Biden but it remains
to be seen how much backing he'll receive in a crowded field.

"At first
blush, yes, one might think Bloomberg would hurt Biden more than others,"
Kondik said. "But we have to remember that sometimes voters don't fit
neatly into ideological categories."While neither is running hard to the
left and both are older white men, voters might perceive key differences between
them," Kondik said. "Bloomberg has to actually show he can draw
significant support in order to hurt Biden."

'Doesn't have the
magic'

Trump weighed in
Friday on a potential Bloomberg bid. "Little Michael will fail,"
Trump told reporters in a reference to the stature of the 5ft, 8in (1.73m)
Bloomberg. "He doesn't have the magic to do well. "There's nobody I'd
rather run against than little Michael," Trump added. "He's not going
to do well but I think he's going to hurt Biden actually."

Bloomberg said
back in March he wouldn't run, but has been toying for weeks with the idea of
seeking the White House after all, according to advisors. "We now need to
finish the job and ensure that Trump is defeated - but Mike is increasingly
concerned that the current field of candidates is not well positioned to do
that," Bloomberg advisor Howard Wolfson said in a statement. "Based
on his record of accomplishment, leadership and his ability to bring people
together to drive change, Mike would be able to take the fight to Trump and
win," Wolfson added, according to Bloomberg News.

Bloomberg,
co-founder and CEO of the media and financial information company that bears
his name, is one of the richest people in the United States according to
Forbes, worth $52.4 billion. His huge personal wealth would likely shake up the
contest at a time when Biden's fundraising is sagging. Bloomberg, who was
elected mayor of the Big Apple in 2001 and served until 2013, is seen as close
to Wall Street and opposed to some of the policies espoused by the more liberal
Warren and Sanders.

His entry would
bloat an already crowded field of contenders, with 17 candidates vying for the
right to take on Trump in November 2020 as the Democratic nominee. Bloomberg
has switched between the Republican and Democratic parties over the years and
also served as an independent mayor. He has used some of his fortune to back
Democratic politicians and fund policies that he believes in - including gun
control and the fight against climate change. Bloomberg considered running for
president as an independent in 2016 but eventually opted not to for fear of
splitting the Democratic vote. - AFP