ALBANY, N.Y. -- New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg again rejected supporters Monday who wanted him to run for president. That includes Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel's suggestion that the nation could use an independent presidential ticket with Bloomberg and Hagel on it.
"I think he was probably joking," Bloomberg said in an Albany news conference pushing his environmental plan for New York City. "He speaks his mind ... he's not happy with the same things that I'm not happy about."
Hagel, a frequent critic of the Iraq war, made the suggestion on Sunday's "Face the Nation" on CBS.
Bloomberg, serving his last term under the city's term limit law, said a New York Daily News poll this week that found him ahead of Republican Rudolph Giuliani was flattering, but "the current mayor always has a real advantage."
"I thought Rudy Giuliani left the city better than he found it and I'm trying to take what he left and build on that," Bloomberg said.
The billionaire businessman was in Albany the same day U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton received a formal endorsement for president in a large outdoor ceremony from Democratic Gov. Eliot Spitzer. Bloomberg insists it was a coincidence and his Albany lobbying trip was planned before the 2008 presidential endorsement by the state's top Democrats was announced.
Bloomberg also shot down Republican state Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno's continued mention to reporters that the mayor would be a great governor and could knock off Democratic Gov. Eliot Spitzer, with whom Bruno has been feuding.
"I am not running for governor," Bloomberg said of the job held by his friend and neighbor for four months. "My hope is that Governor Spitzer _ and expect Governor Spitzer _ is going to be a great governor and that he will go on for a long time being governor and I wish him all the best."
Bloomberg giving a speech in August 2004.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is prepared to spend one billion dollars of his own money for a 2008 White House bid, the ''Washington Times'' reports, citing his friends and "close associates" .  

However, Mayor Bloomberg yesterday made light of Senator Chuck Hagel's suggestion that Bloomberg could run as an independent with Hagel as running mate. Bloomberg has so far denied that he is running but has not ruled out the possibility either. 

Media reports speculate that Bloomberg is considering a run if the Democratic and Republican nominees cater more to the parties' bases, leaving room for an independent candidate who can attract moderate voters for both camps.

''TIME'' magazine reports that Bloomberg was at first ready to consider spending US$500 million for a presidential run. 

Michael Bloomberg could have more money than either party candidates, former FEC chairman  Michael E. Toner told the ''Times''.  Those funds would come in handy to mobilize the thousands of petitions needed to qualify for a run in some states. 

The ''Washington Times'' also has reports of a Bloomberg adviser saying some people involved with John McCain's Presidential Campaign are prepared to leave and join Bloomberg's campaign if he does indeed run. 

Bloomberg's advisers have also said that they have been studying and learning from Ross Perot's Presidential campaign in 1992.  They have called and talked with Perot's former advisers and campaign workers to learn from their mistakes and experience. 

Bloomberg made his fortune with his company Bloomberg L.P., a financial news and data company. ''Forbes magazine'' ranked him 44th on a list of wealthiest Americans and 142nd on a list of billionaires  worldwide. His net worth is estimated at US$5.5 billion.