Terence Shepherd is multimedia business editor for The Miami Herald. He asked this of Joyce Purnick, who has written ``Mike Bloomberg: Money, Power, Politics'' (PublicAffairs, $26.95):

Q: You describe ``The Bloomberg doctrine'' in which Michael Bloomberg runs the maze of life, and is able to tunnel under or rise above obstacles to discover a new, exciting and profitable pathway for his life. Do you think Barack Obama's election will lead Bloomberg to rethink seeking the White House in '12 or '16?

A: I doubt that Bloomberg will make a future run for the White House. He certainly won't in 2012 if Obama seeks a second term. They've developed a good relationship, and Obama is likely to be strong if he does run again, not vulnerable to a challenge from an independent candidate.

As for 2016, timing would have to be a major factor. Bloomberg will be 74 years old and three years beyond his third term, which will end in December 2013. Staying in the public eye without a platform is difficult, even for a multibillionaire who can freely spend his money to try to stay relevant.

Of course, the first rule of politics is never say never. Since some of Bloomberg's political advisors still insist he could have won the White House last year by emphasizing his business and managerial experience once the economic crisis hit the country, it's a good bet they will want him to try again. But I doubt he will; Bloomberg is, above all, practical and pragmatic, and just as he decided not to run last year because he knew he could not win, I suspect he will be just as hard-headed about his political prospects in the future.

The election of an African American president might make it easier for the country to accept an urban Jewish candidate some day, but I don't see the stars aligning in Bloomberg's favor.

• In conversation with Max Frankel, 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Room 3208/3209.

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