How To Elect An Independent

Last week NYC mayor Mike Bloomberg (again) officially said he's not running for president. Along the way he suggested, though, that he believes an independent could win the office in the future. I was a bit skeptical, but kept the thought in the back of my mind. So here's my theory on how it could happen sooner rather than later:

1. Despite going into the convention with a lead in the popular vote, number of states, number of pledged delegates, a deal is brokered to give Hillary the democratic nomination in a way that leaves a very, very bad taste in the mouths of the Obama supporters.

2. Obama supporters, particularly the young, tech-savvy ones (who have supported him overwhelmingly in this primary fight), recall that their organizational efforts relied very, very little on the democratic party establishment. Instead, they used social networking sites, youtube, and technological solutions for grassroots fundraising that bore little resemblance to traditional campaigning methods, and now they're going to have four more years to further refine their tools.

3. McCain beats Clinton, as the majority of disenchanted young democrats and blacks sit this one out.

4. McCain's first term does not go well.

5. Obama, or someone else who similarly grabs the popular imagination, decides to go it alone in 2012, backed by some start-up cash from vp-candidate Mayor Mike or elsewhere.

I know, I know, I won't quit my day job....