Independent Day?

NBC News is reporting that:

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg left the Republican Party on Tuesday and switched to unaffiliated, a move certain to be seen as a prelude to an independent presidential bid that would upend the 2008 race.

Bloomberg, who has been both a Democrat and a Republican, thinks Republicans are trending too far to the right and Democrats are trending too far to the left. He sees an opening for someone with enough money to make a run at the White House. Forbes and other sources report his net worth at $5.5 billion.

The billionaire former CEO, who was a lifelong Democrat before he switched to the Republican Party in 2001 for his first mayoral run, said the change in his voter registration does not mean he is running for president.

"Although my plans for the future haven't changed, I believe this brings my affiliation into alignment with how I have led and will continue to lead our city," Bloomberg said.

Bloomberg is certainly sending signals that he could be a presidential candidate in 2008, and NBC reported that Bloomberg might spend as much as $500 million on his campaign.

Throughout his 5 1/2 years as mayor, Bloomberg has often been at odds with his party and President Bush. He supports gay marriage, abortion rights, gun control and stem cell research, and raised property taxes to help solve a fiscal crisis after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Looks like the race might get a lot more interesting.