Bloomberg: I'm Not Running for President

[CGowen]

NEW YORK (AP) — Mayor Michael Bloomberg has squashed the notion of running for president this year, declaring that he will not seek the White House but might put his support behind another candidate who embraces bipartisan governing.

Apparently ending a dance of presidential speculation that began more than two years ago, the 66-year-old billionaire businessman said in an op-ed piece in Thursday's New York Times that he will not launch his own bid but will work to "steer the national conversation away from partisanship and toward unity; away from ideology and toward common sense; away from sound bites and toward substance."

"I listened carefully to those who encouraged me to run, but I am not — and will not be — a candidate for president," he wrote. "I have watched this campaign unfold, and I am hopeful that the current campaigns can rise to the challenge by offering truly independent leadership."

Bloomberg aides and associates had been assembling the framework for an independent campaign, and if he had decided to run, a $1 billion operation would have been ready to go. Instead, Bloomberg hinted that he may lend his wealth and weight to someone else.



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http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5glP5pcCX0nRM4Y0ajcWvUKe0P0QAD8V3AA080

[NeedleCast]

1. Good

I like Bloomberg and so do most Democratic New Yorkers I know, but I think he would have cost us any shot at winning the GE.

[TwilightGardener]

2. I really hope he endorses Obama. He might go for McCain because they're old friends, but

I think Obama is closer to his political beliefs, and they did have that diner meeting...

[CK_John]

3. Obama if he wins and Nader if he doesn/t. IMO .n/t

[THUNDER HANDS]

4. he would run if Hillary was the nominee

but since it's Obama, he won't.

I think he likes Obama a lot.