Though New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has denied any intention to run for president, associates hint that he is nonetheless considering an independent or third-party candidacy. If he does follow that route, the latest Rasmussen Reports national survey of the presidential contest indicates he would probably siphon votes from the Republican nominee.

Rasmussen Reports national telephone surveys show New York Senator Hillary Clinton (D) essentially tied with both former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) and Arizona Senator John McCain (R).

However, when Bloomberg is added to the mix, Clinton leads both GOP hopefuls by nine points. Against both Giuliani and McCain, Clinton attracts 47% of the vote in head-to-head match-ups and 46% in a three-way race.

Both Giuliani and McCain maintain their lead with male voters in the three-way match-ups. But Hillary Clinton has a whopping twenty-point advantage among female voters in those match-ups, more than she enjoys in the two-way contests.

Recently released data has shown that a declining number of Americans now consider themselves Republicans. However, just 4% of voters say they are Very Likely to vote for a third party Presidential candidate in 2008. Another 15% say it is Somewhat Likely that they will cast such a vote. The potential for a third-party candidate to siphon votes might be very important if Clinton ends up winning the Democratic nomination because 46% of voters say they will definitely vote against her.

Mayor Bloomberg, a billionaire, spent $85 million in his 2005 campaign to win reelection as New York City's mayor. If he entered the presidential campaign as a latecomer he would not have to worry about raising money.

However, just 25% of American voters have a favorable opinion of Bloomberg while 50% hold an unfavorable view. Those numbers are substantially weaker than those for Giuliani (58% favorable), McCain (55% favorable), and Clinton (48% favorable).

The last billionaire independent candidate for president, Ross Perot, received some 19% of the vote in his 1992 run, but only 8% in a second attempt four years later under the banner of the Reform Party.

Thirty-seven percent (37%) of voters say they have voted for a third-party or independent Presidential candidate at least once in their life. Twenty-eight percent (28%) have done so at the Congressional level.

Rasmussen Reports continuously updates favorability ratings and general election match-ups for all Democratic and Republican candidates. We also maintain ratings for Members of Congress, Other Political Figures, and Journalists.

Rasmussen Reports releases updated polling data on the Republican nominating contest every Tuesday. Results for the Democrats are updated on Mondays.

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