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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| NY mayor denies presidential bid | NY mayor denies presidential bid |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has denied rumours he intends to run as an independent for the 2008 US presidency. | New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has denied rumours he intends to run as an independent for the 2008 US presidency. |
| He was speaking a day after he left the Republican Party and changed his political status to unaffiliated, fuelling speculation over his plans. | He was speaking a day after he left the Republican Party and changed his political status to unaffiliated, fuelling speculation over his plans. |
| "I think they are wasting their time. I am not a candidate," Mr Bloomberg said, asked about his showing in presidential opinion polls for New York state. | "I think they are wasting their time. I am not a candidate," Mr Bloomberg said, asked about his showing in presidential opinion polls for New York state. |
| He insisted he intended to serve until his second mayoral term ends in 2009. | He insisted he intended to serve until his second mayoral term ends in 2009. |
| He then plans to turn his attention to philanthropic projects, he told reporters. | He then plans to turn his attention to philanthropic projects, he told reporters. |
| Mr Bloomberg is barred from seeking a third term as New York's mayor. | Mr Bloomberg is barred from seeking a third term as New York's mayor. |
| Partisan politics | Partisan politics |
| Speaking to reporters in New York on Wednesday, Mr Bloomberg said he had "the greatest job in the world" and that he planned to stay in it "for the next 925 days". | |
| Commenting on the White House race, he said: "The more people that run for office the better." | |
| But, he pointed out, there were already two people from New York state in the race - Republican Rudy Giuliani and Democrat Hillary Clinton. "I'm not sure the state needs a third," he said. | |
| Giving something of a mixed message, Mr Bloomberg added that now he was unaffiliated he would be better able to speak out on what he considers to be the big issues in the presidential campaign. | |
| A recent Pew Research Center poll found that while he had good name recognition, only 9% of those surveyed said there was a good chance they would vote for him. | |
| Commenting a day earlier on his decision to leave the Republican Party, Mr Bloomberg said a non-partisan approach had "worked wonders in New York". | |
| A long-term Democrat, he switched parties when he ran for mayor in 2001. | A long-term Democrat, he switched parties when he ran for mayor in 2001. |
| Mr Bloomberg said: "Although my plans for the future haven't changed, I believe this brings my affiliation into alignment with how I have led and will continue to lead our city." | Mr Bloomberg said: "Although my plans for the future haven't changed, I believe this brings my affiliation into alignment with how I have led and will continue to lead our city." |
| In recent speeches Mr Bloomberg has criticised partisan politics in the US, declaring it has paralysed decision making and jeopardised America's future. | In recent speeches Mr Bloomberg has criticised partisan politics in the US, declaring it has paralysed decision making and jeopardised America's future. |
| Chances 'slim' | |
| The 65-year-old billionaire, who founded the media and financial data empire Bloomberg LP, has enough money to finance a bid for the White House. | The 65-year-old billionaire, who founded the media and financial data empire Bloomberg LP, has enough money to finance a bid for the White House. |
| But, says the BBC's Justin Webb in Washington, Mr Bloomberg's chances of being elected would be slim. | |
| After all, no independent has been voted into the White House in modern history. | |
| However, if the two main parties had already chosen candidates unappealing to the middle ground, and Mr Bloomberg annihilated them in campaign spending - which he could do from his personal fortune alone - then anything is possible, our correspondent says. | |
| As for Mr Bloomberg's policies, he is a social liberal, backing gays and abortion rights, but a fiscal conservative. | |
| Millions of Americans would put themselves in the same category and feel at the moment that they are unrepresented, our correspondent adds. |