New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s endorsement of President Obama is prompting many to analyze the billionaire’s move. Is this a sign that business isn’t as anti-Obama as it seems? (Bloomberg is, after all, a highly successful entrepreneur—and business bible The Economist endorsed the president the same day.) How many independent voters might actually be swayed by the mayor’s lukewarm praise? And what does this mean about the man’s own presidential aspirations, and his post-mayoral life?/Jena McGregor, Washington Post. More here. (AP file photo)

Question: So billionaire Bloomberg endorses Obama after quietly giving $200,000 to Education Voters of Idaho to fight for so-called education reform promoted by the Idaho GOP establishment? What gives?

Idaho Gov. Butch Otter says it wasn't him who asked New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg to donate to Idaho's school-reform fight — it was First Lady Lori Otter. “The first lady was the one that talked to Mike's organization,” Otter said today, before judging a children's Halloween costume contest on the state Capitol steps. “You know, we got to know Mike pretty well, going up to the, Herb Allen has his gathering up in Sun Valley, and so every year we've gone up, we've ran into Mike, and had an opportunity to kind of get to know each other. He's been interested in education, and Lori I think was telling him about it while we were up there, and he said, 'Give me a call, I'll see if I can help you.'”/Betsy Russell, Eye on Boise. More here. (AP file photo of Lori Otter & governor snuggling at a Republican victory party)

Question: Did Butch throw Lori under the bus?

Education Voters of Idaho, acting under a judge's order, filed its campaign finance disclosure report this afternoon, revealing the until-now anonymous donors to the group's statewide TV ad campaign in favor of Propositions 1, 2 and 3, the school reform measures. Among them: $200,000 from New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg (pictured), and $250,000 from Boise's Joseph B. Scott. Michael Bloomberg is the third-term mayor of New York, an independent, a former Republican and former Democrat, and one of the nation's richest men. He is pro-choice, pro-gun control, and made national waves this year with his move to ban the sale of sugary soft drinks in servings bigger than 16 ounces on public health grounds. He's clashed with the city's public employee unions, including during a transit workers strike in 2005, and as mayor took direct control over the city's public schools, where he's pushed for reforms/Betsy Russell, Eye on Boise. More here. (AP photo)

• Also: Link to full reports here and here, including $15,000 from Hagadone Hospitality
• Also: John Foster & Debbie Field of Education Voters of Idaho send letter to Secretary of State Ben Ysursa. Click here.
• Also: Bloomberg, Albertson's heir Scott gave EVI $450,000/Dan Popkey, Statesman
• Also: On Halloween, Education Voters of Idaho unmasked/Kevin Richert, Idaho Statesman
• Also: First Lady asked Bloomberg to donate to Luna Laws/Betsy Russell, Eye on Boise

Question: What the heck is a New York mayor doing by doughnating $200K to an Idaho education fight?