New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg once again denied any presidential aspirations Thursday, but with some new language that suggests he might really mean it.

“I’ve said repeatedly I’m not a candidate … and I’ll stay that way,” the mayor said in response to a reporter’s question during an appearance at Google’s New York headquarters in Chelsea.

The mayor has said he’s “not a candidate” before, but his choice of words Thursday went further and was somewhat more definitive than previous denials.

Bloomberg has been flirting with a possible independent White House bid for months, with aides conducting national polling to gauge his chances while he coyly denied any knowledge of their activities.

Just two weeks ago, he met with Ross Perot’s former campaign manager and with California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who threw his support behind John McCain on Thursday.

Then again, the Democrat-turned-Republican-turned-independent mayor has been known to change his mind.