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‘NOT RUNNING’ MIKE SWINGING INTO OHIO

It’s off to Ohio next week for Mayor Bloomberg – a politically proactive trip by a possible 2008 candidate to one of the most important states in the presidential race.

The White House hopefuls have been focusing on the Buckeye State – Hillary Rodham Clinton in particular – because the state could determine the outcome of the contest. If it had gone for John Kerry in 2004, he’d be president now.

“Ohio is the most important state in the presidential election,” said veteran political consultant Jerry Skurnik.

Mayoral aides said Bloomberg was headed to the Cincinnati area on government business, not to engage in national politics.

“It’s a public-safety event,” declared spokesman Stu Loeser. “Last year, he went to Pennsylvania for a public-safety event.”

He was referring to the mayor’s war against illegal guns. Bloomberg pledged in his last State of the City speech to turn that war into a national crusade.

Bloomberg has said repeatedly he’s not running for president.

But friends and confidants keep sending mixed messages about a possible independent bid by the Democrat-turned-Republican mayor.

Esther Fuchs, a former special adviser, recently told an audience at Fordham University there was an 80 percent chance Bloomberg would jump into the presidential fray if the major parties nominated extremist candidates.

On his weekly radio show yesterday, Bloomberg offered an analysis of the early presidential primaries and called on the federal government to assume responsibility for setting the dates instead of individual states.

“This year, because we have so many primaries together – and it looks like you will – it may very well be where you have two or three candidates on each of the two major parties, you won’t have a decision by then,” the mayor said.

“Quite the contrary. Those who wait for the primaries that come later will have an even greater impact because all of the votes will be split. Maybe it’ll work out that way. Or maybe one person will run away with it day one on February 5th and the rest of them are meaningless.”

Gov. Spitzer is expected to approve legislation soon that will move New York’s primary from March 6 to Feb. 5, a day favored by several other states, including California and New Jersey.

Joe Mercurio, a longtime political analyst, said it would work to Bloomberg’s advantage if the major party contenders are determined by February.

“He stays out of trouble from now until late February . . . He doesn’t actually have to get in until April [2008].

“He’s got an opportunity here,” said Mercurio.

He pointed out that voters are uneasy and seem to be clamoring for a fresh face.

“Six out of 10 Republicans are unhappy with the field,” said Mercurio.

“He’s been tested. There’s no incumbent. The electorate is upset about the war. He has no connection to the war. He looks like he knows what he’s doing. I think there’s a very unusual circumstance here.”

david.seifman@nypost.com