Bloomberg planning Independent run for president in '08?

...over the weekend Mr. Bloomberg stoked the speculation by discussing his presidential prospects with guests at a fund-raiser for Rep. Christopher Shays, a Repubblican from Connecticut. According to a report in a Norwalk, CT newspaper, the Hour, the mayor said his wealth couold fuel a run for the White House, but he also mused about the challenges he would face as a candidate not satisfactory to those at both ends of the political spectrum. "Running as an independent would be a daunting thing," Mr. Bloomberg reportedly told guests at the Sunday night dinner. At one point in the evening, he flatly denied interest in the presidency, but he went on to say that any candidate for the office would make such a denial at this stage, the Hour reported."

http://www.nysun.com/article/34483

Given that Bloomberg is relatively liberal on social issues and from New York wouldn't this hurt Democrats more than Republicans if he did run as an Independent?