Noted Strategist Will ‘Do a Backflip' If Mayor Runs for President in 2008

An Independent political strategist, Dean Barkley, has signed on to help advise the Independence Party of America, which makes no secret that it hopes to draft Mayor Bloomberg into the presidential race.

The newly launched national party, headed by the New York state Independence Party chairman, Frank MacKay, has recently begun an effort to drum up national support for a third-party bid in next year's contest.

Mr. MacKay said Mr. Barkley was sought primarily for his expertise on ballot access, which is a tricky process that varies widely from state to state.

Barkley, a Minnesota attorney, managed Kinky Friedman's independent gubernatorial campaign in Texas, and is known for engineering Jesse Ventura's election as Minnesota governor. He recently formed an independent political consultancy in Washington.

Mr. Barkley said Monday he would "do a back flip" if Bloomberg were to run for president, something the Democrat-turned-Republican-turned-independent billionaire mayor denies any interest in doing.

"The public is disgusted with both major parties — I hope he does it," Mr. Barkley said. "I think our political system needs to be shaken to the core."

Mr. MacKay said the Independence Party effort is not just limited to Mr. Bloomberg, and will likely support a candidate even if he does not run.