Benita, who is battling for airtime as an independent candidate, welcomed the tacit endorsement.
Other candidates welcomed Mr. Jospin into the race and called for debates soon.
While some other candidates welcomed his candidacy because of the attention it brought to the election, others regarded Mr. Shriver with skepticism.
Mr. Giuliani has not even staged the formal announcement that most candidates welcome as a high-profile opportunity to make the case for their candidacy.
"It's being sorted out today and it's just a matter of dotting the i's and crossing the t's before the money is paid over tomorrow [Thursday]." Other assembly election candidates welcomed the development.
6.41pm: On Comment is free, environmental activist and Green Party candidate Tony Juniper welcomes Hu's statement this morning that China is willing to adopt some kind of carbon intensity target.
8 17pm: "Outsider" candidate Ben Carson welcomes other "outsider" newcomer Carly Fiorina in introduction.
The government's candidate, Jose Serra, welcomed the loan agreement enthusiastically.
Any U.S. presidential candidate "is welcome to receive a briefing from the Met Police on the reality of policing London," she added.
Richard Stancati, director of the Great Neck Chamber of Commerce and formerly the chairman of the board of the Great Neck Village Business Association, endorsed neither candidate but welcomed the contested election.
