Mayor forming PAC of his own

NEWYORK— Seeking to reshape a national political debate he finds frustratingly superficial, Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York is plunging into the 2012 campaign in its final weeks, creating his own super PAC to direct millions of dollars in donations to elect candidates from both parties who he believes will focus on solving problems.

Bloomberg, who is a billionaire and registered independent, expects to spend from $ 10 million to $ 15 million of his money in highly competitive congressional, state and local races.

Advertising blitz

The money would be used for a flurry of advertising on behalf of Republican and Democratic candidates who support three of his biggest policy initiatives: legalizing same- sex marriage, enacting tougher gun laws, and overhauling schools.

Among those Bloomberg will support are Angus King, an independent running for the U. S. Senate in Maine; Gloria Negrete McLeod, who is challenging a fellow Democrat, Rep. Joe Baca of California, whom the mayor believes has been weak on gun control; and Rep. Bob Dold, R- Ill., who has backed gun- control measures.

Chance to act

Themove reflects an eagerness from Bloomberg, who is entering the twilight of his mayoral term, to elect more centrist candidates who are willing to compromise and grapple with what he sees as grave problems confronting the country.

Up to now, themayor has played amodest role in politics outside New York.

But two years ago, he signaled a desire to play a bigger role in combating more extreme forces in U. S. politics.