Bloomberg reacts testily to report he urged Clinton mayoral bid

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg (I) responded testily to a report that he had encouraged Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to run for mayor of New York City.

"Why do you think I encouraged Hillary Clinton to run for mayor?" Bloomberg said Tuesday, according to Capital New York. "I mean, did you hear me say that?"

Bloomberg was responding to a report in The New York Times, which claimed that earlier this year he had urged Clinton to run for mayor after his term expires. According to the Times report, though, Clinton said she was not interested.

Clinton has repeatedly said she plans to step down from her post at the State Department in January. Some political observers speculate that she is considering a run for president in 2016, and polls of early primary states show her leading the hypothetical Democratic field.

Clinton, however, has repeatedly denied any plans to run for higher office.

—This story was updated at 4:14 p.m.

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