Bloomberg passing on White House run

Hi, I'm Rebecca Field in for Kristin Volk on this Thursday, the 28 day of February 2008 with your...  More »

Hi, I'm Rebecca Field in for Kristin Volk on this Thursday, the 28 day of February 2008 with your UPI news brief. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is passing on a run for the White House. Bloomberg has publicly contemplated becoming an independent candidate, but said he decided against it in an op-ed published on the New York Times website last night. The 66-year-old billionaire had reportedly collected poll data assessing his chances of winning the race. The issue of Iraq prompted a heated exchange between Republican presidential hopeful John McCain and his counterpart, Democrat Barack Obama. McCain questioned yesterday whether Obama was aware of Al Qaeda in Iraq. The Illinois senator responded saying there was no Al Qaeda in Iraq until President Bush and McCain decided to invade that country. The Arizona senator was campaigning in Tyler, Texas. Obama was in Columbus, Ohio. Six Palestinian militants are dead following an Israeli air strike that targeted parts of the Gaza Strip. One of the slain is the son of a hardline Hamas leader. The attack comes one day after an Israeli air strike killed five Hamas militants traveling in a van. Hamas retaliated by firing more than 40 rockets into Israel, killing an Israeli man. President Bush welcomed the Boston Red Sox to the White House yesterday. Bush congratulated the team on their World Series win back in October over the Colorado Rockies. This was the second time in four years that the Red Sox visited the White House to be recognized for a World Series win. Thanks for watching today's update. Join us tomorrow for more news.  « Less