New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has flirted with the prospect of a presidential bid before, but appears resigned to the conclusion he’ll never run . . . because he can’t win.

The exchange from the much-buzzed about New York Magazine piece this weekend:

If you’re an executive, can you really rule out running for president in 2016?

Yes. It’s just impossible. I am 100 percent convinced that you cannot in this country win an election unless you are the nominee of one of the two major parties. The second thing I am convinced of is that I could not get through the primary process with either party.

And, incidentally, I think I’ve got a better job than the president’s. He’s got a very tough Congress, and he’s removed from the day-to-day stuff. My job is the day-to-day stuff. That’s what I’m good at—or at least what I think I’m good at.

Bloomberg steered away from answering a question about his favorite 2016 prospect, calling Hillary Clinton, Andrew Cuomo and Chris Christie all “very competent,” but declining to go any further.

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