Independence Party members in Minnesota have mixed feelings about a request they link with similar third parties in other states to form a fledgling national party — one that aims to field a presidential candidate such as New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg in next year’s general election.

“I’m not sure what an alliance with the other parties gets us in the absence of a candidate to get behind,” said former Congressman Tim Penny, who left the DFL for the Independence Party and was its candidate for governor in 2002.

Bloomberg, a wealthy businessman who has expressed interest in seeking the presidency, fueled speculation he would run when he left the Republican Party earlier this year. He has since said he’s not running, although New York newspapers have reported that members of his staff have met with Frank MacKay, the chairman of the recently launched Independence Party of America.

MacKay was in Minnesota last week to ask leaders of the Independence Party of Minnesota to join the national organization, said Michael Burger of Mankato, one of the party officials present.

“He’s got a lot of work to do, but he’s determined,” Burger said of MacKay.

That work will include persuading some key Minnesota leaders of the party who were doubtful about signing up.

Part of the problem is memories of the last time they were members of a national party. In 2000, supporters of the presidential run of conservative commentator Pat Buchanan mounted a takeover of the Reform Party, and a national party meeting disintegrated into a debacle that embarrassed many party members.

Minnesota’s chapter left the Reform Party and became the Independence Party.

“There were some who were kind of skeptical because of what happened with us here with the Reform Party,” said Burger, the IP’s 1st Congressional District chairman.

Burger is a supporter of affiliating with the national party, rather than joining it, when a decision is made at a state party convention Dec. 1. That would leave the Minnesota party with the independence it needs while still being able to support a nationwide presidential campaign by Bloomberg or another IP nominee.

After promoting the Independence Party at six southern Minnesota county fairs last summer, Burger said he met many fair-goers who were fed up with the Democratic and Republican parties. But they also showed their primary interest was in federal issues, which is why he thinks the party needs a national presence.

“I told them we’re only a state party now and they kind of lost interest,” he said.

Penny doesn’t appear to be in any hurry to form ties with other parties. If Bloomberg decides to get into the race, then it would make sense to coordinate with centrist parties in other states to promote his candidacy and get his name on the ballot in all 50 states, Penny said.

“I think very quickly the various state parties could get it done,” Penny said.

Because a third-party candidate would need to have the resources to self-finance his campaign, Penny doesn’t see any obvious alternatives to Bloomberg — a multi-billionaire who spent more than $150 million of his own money on his two successful runs for mayor.