Giuliani rules out seeking third term

NEW YORK (AP) -- Mayor Rudolph Giuliani said Wednesday he will not press for a third term, but he repeated his offer to stay on for an extra three months to guide the city through the aftermath of the World Trade Center attack.

"I'm not going to be on the ballot," Giuliani said. "I'm available to do the transition I offered to do. If people support it, fine."

Giuliani, a Republican, is barred by the City Charter from serving more than two terms and is scheduled to leave office on Dec. 31. However, he has talked with legislative leaders about extending his stay in office or lifting term limits altogether so that he could run for a third term.

The leader of New York's Conservative Party, Michael Long, had offered Giuliani his party's line on the November ballot while the mayor seeks repeal of the term-limits law.

But Giuliani said Wednesday: "I told him I thought it would not be a good idea. It would lead to division and litigation and the city does not need division and litigation at this time."

Giuliani's idea to extend his stay has gotten a chilly reception in the Legislature from Democrat Sheldon Silver, speaker of the Assembly.

Since the Sept. 11 terrorist attack on the Trade Center, Giuliani's approval ratings have soared as he sought to calm the city and bring some order to the chaos. That led to talk that Giuliani should somehow continue in office.

Two of the three candidates for mayor -- Public Advocate Mark Green, a Democrat, and billionaire media executive Michael Bloomberg, a Republican -- have endorsed Giuliani's idea for a three-month extension. Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer, a Democrat, has come out against the idea.