Bloomberg may challenge term-limit law

NEW YORK, Aug. 22 (UPI) -- New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has been quietly sounding out media executives on the idea of seeking a third term, The New York Times said Friday.

Bloomberg has spoken in private with News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch, Daily News owner Mort Zuckerman and New York Times Co. Chairman Arthur Sulzberger Jr. to get their take on whether their media companies would support overturning term limit laws that would prevent Bloomberg from seeking a third term, the newspaper said.

Bloomberg is scheduled to leave office in January.

New York voters approved term limits in 1993 and polls indicate New Yorkers strongly support term limits, the Times said.

Top business executives have privately expressed unhappiness with the prospective candidates to succeed Bloomberg, the newspaper said. Citing a person it said was familiar with Bloomberg's behind-the-scenes campaign, the Times said Murdoch -- whose company publishes the New York Post -- was inclined to support an effort to overturn the term limit law if there is no strong candidate to succeed Bloomberg.