New York's mayor denies mulling White House bid: report
NEW YORK (AFP) — New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg again has denied that he is mulling an independent bid for the White House, despite feverish speculation about an impending presidential campaign, US media reported late Monday.
Just days ahead of the first nominating contests in the US presidential race, the billionaire businessman, while presiding over New Year's festivities in Times Square, told NY1 television that he was not seeking America's highest elective office.
Speculation built in mid-2007 that Bloomberg would run for president when he officially left the Republican party, amid reports that the founder of the Bloomberg media company was prepared to sink one billion dollars into his bid.
The latest rumors were fueled by news that the New York mayor would attend a cross-party conference next week billed as a "bipartisan forum" to help end the current polarization in US politics.
Although Bloomberg was elected New York mayor as a Republican, he was previously a registered Democrat and is considered a liberal on social issues such as abortion, gay marriage and gun control.
The 65-year-old has repeatedly denied he is interested in running for president, saying he will serve out his mayoral term ending in late 2009, but his protests have done little to silence the media buzz.
