US:New York mayor Michael Bloomberg has dismissed speculation that he is about to enter the 2008 presidential race as an independent candidate, writes Denis Stauntonin Washington .
A self-made billionaire, Mr Bloomberg would be the third prominent New York politician, after Hillary Rodham Clinton and his predecessor as mayor, Rudy Giuliani, to join the race for the White House.
The Washington Post reported yesterday the mayor, who is a moderate Republican, could yet decide to run. Mr Bloomberg, who has a personal fortune of at least $5.5 billion (€4 billion), could afford to pay the $500 million (€375 million) cost of a presidential campaign out of his own pocket.
