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Bloomberg: I Am Not a Candidate

NY mayor denies presidential ambition

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Jan 3, 2008 12:40 PM CST

(Newser) – New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg today shot down lingering speculation that he’ll attempt an independent bid for the presidency. “I am not a candidate,” he said on NBC's "Today Show." “I’m not going to be a candidate. I’m going to be mayor.” Chatter resumed about a Bloomberg run when he decided to attend a Jan. 7 anti-partisanship forum, Reuters reports.

But while the mayor won’t be running, he had plenty of criticisms of the people who are. He complained candidates in both parties weren’t addressing world hunger or genocide, and called their immigration plans xenophobic. He advocated a less-partisan independent approach. “Don't say, 'OK, Bloomberg's criticizing A, B or C on either side,’” he said, “It’s all of them.”

[Images (3)]

[Videos (2)]

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg presides over a year end bill signing ceremony in the Blue Room at City Hall Monday, Dec. 31, 2007 in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) (Associated Press)

Mayor Michael Bloomberg speaks on camera at Times Square in New York, Monday, Dec. 31, 2007. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) (Associated Press)

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg speaks at during a news conference addressing a new anti cigarette campaign City Hall January 2, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) (Getty Images)

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Bloomberg: I Am Not a Candidate