Bloomberg says not presidential candidate

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Despite yet another round of speculation about his presidential ambitions, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Thursday denied he will run for U.S. president.

"I'm not going to be a candidate," he told NBC's "Today Show." "I am not a candidate."

"I'm going to be mayor," he said as he chatted about the environment and helped mulch Christmas trees on camera.

Bloomberg made his comments as the people of Iowa prepared to cast the first votes of the 2008 presidential election contests in Democratic and Republican caucuses. Both races are tight.

Asked if he would support another independent candidate, Bloomberg replied that he wanted to see an "independent approach where we stop this partisan bickering and stop special interests and get the best from both parties."

Bloomberg, now an independent, won office in New York as a moderate Republican. Before that he was a longtime Democrat.

There was renewed speculation about Bloomberg's presidential aspirations this week after it was announced he would attend a January 7 forum in Oklahoma led by a bipartisan group that believes the Republican and Democratic parties are out of touch and unduly influenced by special interests.

He became a billionaire through the successful financial information and media company he founded, Bloomberg LP, and his wealth and ability to self-finance a presidential bid is one reason speculation about his candidacy has persisted. (Reporting by Joanne Kenen, editing by Doina Chiacu)