NEW YORK -- Mayor Michael Bloomberg and ABC News made a formal offer to host the first of the general election town hall meetings with John McCain and Barack Obama, according to a letter going out to both candidates on Sunday.

McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, asked his Democratic counterpart last week to join him in 10 meetings with voters in the coming months, and campaign managers for both sides said they have agreed in spirit to schedule some type of joint appearances.

Bloomberg, the billionaire mayor who toyed with mounting his own independent presidential run this year, and ABC News President David Westin formally proposed in a letter to both candidates that the first meeting take place at Federal Hall in Manhattan. McCain had already suggested the venue.

Bloomberg and ABC envisioned a 90-minute primetime broadcast, but said the date and other details — like how much interaction the candidates would have with voters or a moderator — should be worked out between the two campaigns.

"We look forward to beginning a conversation on how best to create an event that will honor our nation's founding spirit and respect the voters' desire to engage in a thoughtful discussion of the critical issues facing America and the world," Bloomberg and Westin wrote.

Bloomberg said this spring that he had decided not to make a third-party White House bid, but vowed to stay engaged in the process — and hinted that he might put his wealth and support behind one of the contenders.

The Democrat-turned-Republican-turned-independent has said he is not necessarily most likely to back the candidate who matches his policy positions, but the one who demonstrates the most genuine bipartisan credentials.

Bloomberg supporters have also pushed the idea that he could be a running mate for either candidate, although neither McCain nor Obama seems to match that enthusiasm for picking him.

Aides to Bloomberg told The Associated Press that he might like to have a role in the town hall meeting, like shaping questions or speaking with the candidates, but those details would have to be worked out with the campaigns.

Bloomberg, for his part, always expressed disdain about the televised debates during the primary season, claiming he never watched them because they didn't delve into important issues and gave candidates only short intervals to answer ridiculous questions.

Bloomberg spokesman Jim Anderson said the mayor is making the offer because he is "excited about a campaign where voters interact directly with the candidates in a town hall format, and thinks New York City is the ideal setting for a first meeting."

ABC hosted several debates during the primary season, three in primetime. An ABC News spokesman said Diane Sawyer would likely be the moderator for this town hall meeting.




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