Testy Bloomberg responds to Hillary Clinton report

New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg did not respond kindly when asked about reports he urged former New York senator and current Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to make a run to succeed him.

"Why do you think I encouraged Hillary Clinton to run for mayor? I mean, were you, did you hear me say that?" he told a reporter, as CBS New York reported. Bloomberg did not directly confirm or deny that he had urged Clinton to jump into the mayor's race.

The New York Times reported Tuesday that Bloomberg called on Clinton to enter the mayor's race "some months ago," and that she turned down the request. Bloomberg, who is in his third and final term, is about to enter his final year in office.

The report was particularly sensitive for Bloomberg because he has been widely expected to back City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, the frontrunner in the race, as his replacement. CBS New York reported that the mayor accused reporters of trying to drive a wedge between himself and Quinn and complained of "cheap, lousy journalism" when asked if he was dissatisfied with the expected mayoral candidates.

"I dunno who's going to run, but if you wanna start a fight between me and Chris Quinn, you're not gonna do it," he said. He also complimented Quinn for having made "an enormous difference in this city."

Asked Tuesday if she thought Clinton would make a good New York mayor, Quinn responded, "I think Hillary Clinton would excel in any position that she takes." Clinton plans to leave her position as secretary of state in the next year, and she is believed to be considering a run at the White House in 2016.