NEW YORK, NY August 18, 2008 —Despite Mayor Bloomberg's public declaration last Spring that he was not running for President, die hard boosters have gotten his name on the November ballot in Virginia. WNYC's Bob Hennelly has more.

Virginia's Independent Green Party has taken up the 'draft Bloomberg' effort. Petitioners gathered 7O,OOO signatures, well above the required 1O,OOO. In Virgina petitioners for Presidential ballot access don't need the permission of their proposed candidate.

In a statement, Bloomberg Press Secretary Stu Loeser says the Mayor hasn't made up his mind up about whether he'll formally decline the nomination, but the statement also says the Mayor hopes both major parties would see this latest draft effort as part of the national sentiment to move beyond partisanship.

Carey Campbell, chair of Virginia's Independent Greens, says should Bloomberg formally decline the draft, the party would have until September 8th to find a replacement. Virginia is now considered a key battleground state for Senators Obama and McCain. And as the election tightens nationally even before Labor Day, the activities of third parties take on added gravity.