Obama Won't Endorse a Candidate in NYC's Mayoral Race

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs says President Barack Obama's meeting with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg shouldn't be seen as an endorsement of the mayor.

Gibbs said at a briefing that the Democratic president doesn't plan to make an endorsement in the race. The White House later said Gibbs was referring only to Thursday's meeting with Bloomberg. The White House says the president has not ruled out an endorsement later.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg is a Democrat-turned-Republican-turned independent. He is also running on the GOP ballot line.

The leading Democrat, William Thompson Jr., could use the boost from the popular president and leader of the party. Thompson says he wants his campaign to build grassroots support like Obama did on a national level.