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New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg continues to insist he has "no plans" to run for president. But residents of Iowa and New Hampshire are likely to see him only days before they vote, thanks to a full-page ad Bloomberg and other big-city mayors are placing in the states' largest newspapers to highlight the issue of illegal guns.

Bloomberg's face is prominent in the ad, where he's joined by other members of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, which he co-chairs. The ad, now running in the Des Moines Register and the New Hampshire Union Leader, urges both candidates and voters to focus on the spread of illegal firearms, and challenges those seeking the White House to address the issue.

If Bloomberg were to run, he would do so as an independent, so it's not as though he could have any impact on the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary. But his mere appearance in newspapers in both states -- in an ad he was presumably OK with -- is going to remind people of his presence just when the election is heating up and draw national media attention.

Reports indicate that Bloomberg won't decide on running until after the nominees of both parties are known, a circumstance that is likely only about a month away. In other words, now is a pretty good time for Bloomberg to be in the spotlight -- something the new ad could accomplish.

From CBS News' John Bentley, on the trail with the Fred Thompson campaign:

Holding an antique tommy gun and a Civil War pistol, Thompson took aim at Rudy Giuliani's policies on gun control. "He simply supported just about every gun control legislation that came down the pike," Thompson said. "I just disagree with him on that. I saw he was at bill signing ceremonies with Chuck Schumer and President Clinton for gun control legislation over the years and he was very outspoken about it. Of course, he's not as outspoken about it anymore."

Thompson made the comments during a campaign stop at Skip's Gun and Sport Shop in Bristol, New Hampshire. Thompson said being the mayor of the largest city in the country meant he was out of touch with most Americans.

"He relates everything to New York City. Well, New York City is not emblematic of the rest of the country. I think the sentiments of those people in the rest of the country are in strong support of the Second Amendment. Which is what I've always been, and I don't think he's ever been."

While Thompson is a lifelong member of the NRA and has visited another arms manufacturer in New Hampshire, he trails Giuliani by nearly 10 points in the granite state, and front-running Mitt Romney by almost 30.