Seeking to quell renewed speculation about any presidential aspirations, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg on Sunday once again ruled out running for the White House in 2012.
Appearing on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Mr. Bloomberg said he was “not looking at the possibility of running.”
“I’ve got a great job, and I’m going to stay with it,” he said.
The show’s host, David Gregory, persisted, wondering whether Mr. Bloomberg might change his mind if his advisers learned that he “could actually win this thing.” Mr. Bloomberg replied that he would not change his mind.
“No way, no how?” Mr. Gregory asked.
“No way, no how,” Mr. Bloomberg repeated.
He said he was urging his supporters to “cease and desist” fomenting speculation and buzz about his interest in a candidacy, adding “but most of this is just because the press wants to have something to write about.”
“I want to go out having a reputation as a very good, maybe the greatest mayor ever,” he said.
The periodic speculation about the mayor’s appetite for a White House bid flared anew last week when the mayor spoke to the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce and disparaged Congress and President Obama for their management of the economy. While the speech sounded campaign-like, Mr. Bloomberg, as he has many times before, ruled out a 2012 run.
On Sunday, Mr. Bloomberg also lavished praise on Mr. Obama for working out a deal with Republicans leaders to retain Bush-era tax cuts for two years and extend unemployment benefits.
“Both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue have finally come together to do something in a bipartisan way,” he said.
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