Bloomberg lambastes whole field

NEW YORK — New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Wednesday insisted again that he isn't running for president, but he offered his most scathing review yet of the people who are, accusing them of pandering with feel-good generalities that are "an insult to the American intellect."

He denounced the candidates for serving what he called "chicken-in-every-pot" promises, instead of concrete positions on issues such as terrorism and health care.

Bloomberg's comments came at an unrelated news conference at which speculation about a presidential bid was front-and-center as the mayor prepares for a meeting in Oklahoma next week with prominent Democrats and Republicans who want their parties to renounce partisan gridlock.

Some invitees have suggested the Oklahoma session could be a precursor to fielding a third-party candidate such as Bloomberg.

Pastors backing Huckabee warned

DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa pastors who support Republican Mike Huckabee for president have received letters warning them that getting involved in politics could endanger the tax-exempt status of their churches.

The letters about Huckabee, a Southern Baptist minister, have no return address, the pastors said.

Seattle Times news services