NEW YORK, N.Y. -- Not quite an endorsement. But Mayor Bloomberg raised eyebrows by appearing with Barack Obama at Cooper Union. Bloomberg once toyed with running for president himself. Now he's toying with who to back.
"As you know I have not endorsed a candidate for president, but have been very clear in my hope that all the candidates will explain in detail how they will address the great challenges in our country,” said Bloomberg.
The two met once before, over breakfast last year. The Mayor jokingly recalled Obama picked up the tab.
Obama jokingly responded, he expects payback with something more expensive.
"I'm no dummy. The mayor was a cheap date that morning. There's some good steakhouses here in New York,” Obama said.
Barack Obama heads into Hillary Clinton's home turf and meets with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. So does it mean Bloomberg is behind Obama. Rita Nissan has the details.
Generous in his praise, Obama would covet an endorsement from a mayor who serves on rival Hillary Clinton's home turf.
"At a time when Washington is divided in old ideological battles, he shows us what can be achieved when we bring people together,” Obama said.
A spokesperson for Clinton said she and Bloomberg spoke recently and will get together soon.
The Democratic contest has gotten nastier and nastier. Thursday, Obama stuck to the economy.
He offered a stimulus package and criticized Republican White House hopeful John McCain's plans.
"John McCain recently announced his own plan, and it amounts to little more than watching this crisis happen,” Obama said.
In North Carolina, Clinton also targeted McCain over the economy.
“I think we have had enough of a president who didn't know enough about economics. Didn't do enough for the American middle class,” said Clinton.
All the candidates are grasping for any advantage. Mayor Bloomberg's endorsement would certainly be one.