Andrea Horwath says 'never say never' to potential mayoral run in Hamilton

Former Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwathwon't say if she'll join the race to be Hamilton's next mayor.

"I've learned to never say never," shesaid Wednesday on CBC'sMetro Morning.

"What I'm weighing is the encouragement I'm getting versus the responsibility I have in Hamilton Centre who just elected me a couple weeks ago."

Her comments cometwo days after Mayor Fred Eisenbergerannouncedhe wouldn'trun for re-election and endorsed Horwathin a CHML interview on Monday.

The current candidates include former mayorBob Bratina, former chamber of commerce CEO Keanin Loomis and former mayoral candidateEjaz Butt.

Horwath is a former city councillor, elected in 1997 before becoming an MPP in 2004. The NDP was the official opposition twice under her leadership, but the party never won an election.

Horwath said right now, she's thinking about the NDP party and her role atQueen's Park.

"You don't want to take your focus away from the job at hand and it's an important one," she said.

"My focus at this point is absolutely helpingwith thetransition to the interim leader ... and of course, we know there's likelya summer sitting coming so I'll be swearing in and doing my job."

Horwath said she's also focused on analyzing how the NDPlost nine seats instead of gaining any.