(JTA) — Publisher and real estate mogul Mortimer Zuckerman is considering a run for the U.S. Senate, The New York Times reported.
Zuckerman, publisher of the New York Daily News, is considering running for the New York Senate seat held by Kirsten Gillibrand, who in January 2009 filled the unexpired term of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.
The New York Times cited two unnamed sources who were told of Zuckerman’s discussions on the idea.
Zuckerman spokesman Ken Frydman told the Times that Zuckerman “is not interested in running for public office.”
One of the sources said Zuckerman, whose fortune is estimated to be about $2 billion, was considering commissioning a poll to see if a candidacy was viable.
Though Zuckerman is known to be a Democrat, he is not registered with a political party and likely would run as a Republican or an independent in order to avoid a primary, according to the newspaper.
He would likely have to turn management of the Daily News over to a third party in order to enter the race.
A naturalized American citizen who was born in Canada, he is a staunch supporter of Israel.
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