Bloomberg Eyes Run in ’08

ABC’s Jake Whitman Reports:  New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has said repeatedly he’s not interested in the job, but this morning’s Washington Post reports the Democrat-turned-Republican billionaire is at least thinking about a White House run in 2008.

The Post reports Bloomberg, 65, has told confidants that he will not decide until early next year, when it has become clear whom Democrats and Republicans will nominate.   Bloomberg would run as an independent.

The Post quotes a close friend who has spoken to Bloomberg about the pros and cons of a presidential campaign as saying that "it is still on his mind."

"If he felt that the candidates were likely to be such that it gave him the opportunity, he would do it," the source told the paper. "It’s a long shot, but not 100 to 1."

Bloomberg is number 142 on the Forbes list of the word’s richest people and is said to be worth at least $5.5 billion.  He spent about $85 million in his 2005 campaign for New York mayor against Democrat Fernando Ferrer.

Political observers tell the Washington Post Bloomberg has enough money to blanket the country with television ads for months if he becomes a candidate.