Mike Bloomberg has a better chance of becoming president as an independent candidate than most people realize, a new poll found Thursday.
The survey by veteran pollster Frank Luntz shows Bloomberg within striking distance of the two leading major party candidates — Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton.
Bloomberg would garner 29 percent, compared to 37 percent for Trump and 33 percent for Clinton.
“The numbers are clear and compelling: there is definitely room for a second billionaire in this election,” said Luntz, who worked for Bloomberg’s mayoral run in 2001.
But a separate poll by Reuters came up with different results.
Bloomberg would get only 9 percent against the front-runners, with Clinton at 37 percent and Trump not far behind with 31 percent, according to the Reuters survey.