Bloomberg Won't Run for President

Mayor Bloomberg is no longer playing coy. In an editorial published in today's New York Times, Bloomberg wrote: ``I listened carefully to those who encouraged me to run, but I am not -- and will not be -- a candidate for president.'' Instead, he says he will use his influence to advocate for nonpartisan solutions to problems.

The speculation about "Bloomie for President" began last June, when Bloomberg renounced the Republican affiliation and declared himself an independent. Back in 2001, he renounced his lifelong Democratic affiliation prior to running for mayor of New York City.

He may not be running for president, but Bloomberg is still playing coy about who he will endorse. He previously stated that he would not endorse any candidate. However, in his New York Times editorial, he writes that he has changed his mind and that "the race is too important to sit on the sidelines."

He stopped short of actually endorsing a candidate. Don't you love how he always keeps us guessing just a little bit? At one point, the 2008 presidential race looked like it could end up as an all-NYC throwdown with Rudy and Hillary as front-runners and Bloomberg playing coy about jumping in. Now only Hillary remains as a hometown (by way of Arkansas) candidate.

Are you disappointed that Bloomberg won't be running or had you already counted him out? A survey released on February 26th showed that 66% of NYC voters think Bloomie is doing an excellent or good job. However, 54% said they didn't want him to run for president.