New York Democrat Leaves Republican Party

The New York Observer reports:

A little past 6 p.m. on the evening of June 19, Michael Bloomberg’s press office sent out the following statement:

"I have filed papers with the New York City Board of Elections to change my status as a voter and register as unaffiliated with any political party."

Newsweek adds:

When the billionaire and life-long Democrat ran as a Republican for mayor of New York City in 2001, his conversion had nothing to do with epiphany and everything to do with expediency (as the GOP candidate, he’d face an easier primary field and could spare himself the labyrinthine nominating process he'd face on the Democratic side)... Term-limited in New York... Today's news that Bloomberg was changing his party status from "Republican" to "unaffiliated" is hardly Earth-shattering.

Since he doesn't need the affiliation to get on the ballot anymore, it's hardly even news.