Sign of Things To Come?

Should we read anything more into the fact that Mayor Mike Bloomberg introduced Sen. Barack Obama at an economic conference in New York City and the mutual admiration society that followed?

Is it possible that Obama has put Bloomberg on a short list for those who could be his running mate? It's definitely a possibility. Bloomberg would lend immediate credibility on economics, leadership, and executive experience as the head of a very prominent financial services business and then as Mayor of New York City. They also share the same tendencies for nanny state solutions - big government projects and a distrust of the market economy.

Both have no problem seeking to raise taxes early and often, including Bloomberg's congestion pricing tax.

It would solve quite a few of Obama's problems. It would salve the wounds stemming from his Rev. Wright debacle, along with revelations that his foreign policy adviser, Gen. McPeak, has made anti-Israel comments in the past.

It would assist Obama geographically, which could help deliver New York, New Jersey and Connecticut to the Democrats.

While Bloomberg has repeatedly mentioned that he wouldn't run for President himself, that doesn't mean he wouldn't be willing to serve as VP if called upon to do so.

UPDATE:
Ed Morrissey is thinking along the same lines and notes that Bloomberg's deep pockets could tip the DNC establishment in favor of Obama heading into a divisive convention.

UPDATE:
Gothamist has a big roundup, including advance copy of Obama's speech at Cooper Union.

UPDATE:
Here's an observation that I should have made much sooner. Bloomberg is Jewish and a very strong supporter of the State of Israel. He's in a position to make a strong statement against Obama's pastor, advisers and perception that Obama is anti-Israel. Instead, he's been silent, which suggests that he's angling for a VP slot. I'm losing quite a bit of respect for Bloomberg by his failure to confront Obama over his Church's positions on race, religion, and the nation.

I'm not alone in making these observations. The Times has a roundup of others who think that Bloomberg is either angling for the VP slot, and suggests that many are falling for a NY-centric bias in doing so. Sorry, but who exactly is Obama going to choose as a running mate? He may be the frontrunner, but has done poorly against Clinton in the primaries in the big states, which are crucial to winning the general election. Bloomberg could give his campaign a serious boost in the Northeast and on the West Coast. I don't think you can understate Bloomberg's appeal to moderate and liberals, which is why talk of a third party run by Bloomberg would have been fatal to the Democrats' chances in November.