Bloomberg refuses to confirm reports he scouted Clinton for mayor

Mayor Michael Bloomberg shot down reports Tuesday that he urged Hillary Clinton to make a run at City Hall, but didn't shy away from praising one potential candidate's work.

The mayor was visibly perturbed when the subject of The New York Times article that claimed Clinton rejected hizzoner's request to run in next year's election came up during a news conference.

"Why do you think I encouraged her to run for mayor? Did you hear me say that?" he asked the reporter who asked about the report.

Bloomberg joked that City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, a potential mayoral candidate who stood next to him at the news conference, encouraged him to run for a fourth term, which is not allowed, but he declined. The mayor touted Quinn's work during her years in City Hall.

"This administration has been very successful and ... it would not have happened without Chris Quinn being the speaker of the Council," he said.

Potential Democratic mayoral candidates include Public Advocate Bill de Blasio and City Comptroller John Liu.