Bloomberg Praises Both Obama and McCain in Minnesota, But Declines to Endorse

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg (I) had kind words for both of the presidential candidates, but he did not endorse either during a much-awaited speech before Minnesota’s Independence Party.

Bloomberg, a former Democrat who won two mayoral terms as a Republican, said that both candidates are capable of acting independently, Minnesota Public Radio reports. But he said that independents such as himself should press both candidates to engage in meaningful debate.

“I think independents should vote for whichever of the two major candidates that they think will do the best job,” Bloomberg said. “They don’t want to waste their vote, but independents as a bloc should demand answers, and that’s what this is all about.”

Before the Independence Party event, party officials had told Bloomberg, who also appeared on Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s (R) radio show Friday, to balance praise for John McCain with praise for Obama, ABC News reports.