Because of the electoral college, it is very difficult for independent candidates to succeed, Satterthwaite said. Bloomberg may have enough appeal to make an impact, and U.S. voters may be ready for an independent, he said.

U.S. politics have become more polarized over the last several decades, Satterthwaite said.

In 1970, partisanship reached its lowest point, with Republicans in the House of Representatives voting 60 percent of the time with their party line, Satterthwaite said. Democrats voted with their party 58 percent of the time.

In 2006, Republicans voted with their party line 88 percent of the time, while Democrats voted with their party 86 percent of the time.

The bipartisan conference will come at a good time, Satterthwaite said. Candidates usually court their parties’ narrow voting base before nomination and then once they are nominated try to reach out to a broader audience.

The forum participants will draft a resolution calling for presidential candidates to reach out to moderates now.

The forum at OU Monday will attempt to encourage presidential candidates to be more bipartisan on the campaign trail and in office. There will be a private meeting and then a public conference 11 a.m. Monday in Holmberg Hall.

Other invited guests besides Bloomberg are former Senators Bob Graham, Alan Dixon, William S. Cohen, Charles Robb and presidential candidate and Senator Gary Hart. Top Republicans invited include Sen. Chuck Hagel, former GOP chairman Bill Brock, former Sen. John Danforth, former New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman. Also attending will be former U.S. ambassador Edward Perkins, political consultant Susan Eisenhower and president of the Center for the Study of the Presidency David Abshire.

Julianna Parker366-3550jparker@normantranscript.com