Michael Bloomberg teases 2020 Democratic presidential campaign.
The long list of potential Trump challengers just got a little longer: Michael Bloomberg is now openly considering running for president in 2020. His declaration follows weeks of unconfirmed reports that he was eyeing a White House run, and it comes with a twist: The former New York City mayor, who was elected twice as a Republican and once as an independent, says if he runs, he’ll do so as a Democrat. “I’m just way away from where the Republican Party is today,” Bloomberg told the New York Times. “That’s not to say I’m with the Democratic Party on everything, but I don’t see how you could possibly run as a Republican.”
There is good reason to doubt how seriously Bloomberg is considering running. The billionaire has been teasing a presidential run for more than a decade, and most recently flirted with an independent bid in 2016 before pulling the plug over fears he’d accidentally swing the election to Donald Trump. But Bloomberg has also been acting an awful lot like someone eyeing a future inside the Democratic Party of late. Earlier this year, he forcefully condemned Republicans for failing to act as a check on the president, and he promised to spend $80 million to help Democrats retake the House. He’s also been making the political rounds out West, where he’s been fêted by the likes of Nancy Pelosi, who now has 80 million reasons to sing his praises as a man whose “name is synonymous with excellence.”
But the more interesting question is not ifBloomberg will jump into the Democratic primary but howhe would fit into it. The short answer: awkwardly. He’s a billionaire who defends big business and Wall Street, and he’s a former mayor who is still defending his administration’s reliance on stop-and-frisk searches that predominantly targeted men of color. He’d also enter the race as an older white man at a time when the Democratic base has made it clear it’s increasingly interested in candidates who know firsthand what it’s like to live in America as anything but that.
AdvertisementOne need look no further than the comments Bloomberg made about #MeToo to the Times for evidence that the 76-year-old is either unwilling or unable to speak the language of today’s left. “The stuff I read about is disgraceful—I don’t know how true all of it is,” Bloomberg said when asked about the recent spate of allegations of sexual harassment and assault by powerful men. He then offered up a defense of Charlie Rose, who was fired by CBS and PBS after numerous women credibly accused him of sexual misconduct. (Rose recorded his PBS show in one of Bloomberg’s TV studios.) “We never had a complaint, whatsoever, and when I read some of the stuff, I was surprised, I will say,” he said. “But I never saw anything and we have no record, we’ve checked very carefully.” Bloomberg also declined to say whether he believed the allegations against Rose. “You know, is it true?” he said. “You look at people that say it is, but we have a system where you have—presumption of innocence is the basis of it.”
Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement AdvertisementStill, Bloomberg’s 2020 campaign wouldn’t necessarilybe DOA, especially if the Democratic field turns out to be as crowded as expected. He’s got experience in government and in business, and a liberal track record on issues like climate change and gun control. He’s worth an estimated $53 billion, and he could use that cash to make an early splash and to keep his campaign afloat for as long as he’d like. And while he doesn’t appear to have a natural constituency among Democratic primary voters, with so many big names racing to the left, it’s conceivable Bloomberg may be able to cobble together a coalition of support among moderates looking for a pragmatic candidate running closer to the center. But even then, Bloomberg would likely have competition, be it from someone like Joe Biden or one or more of a handful of other mayors considering a run. In the meantime, though, Bloomberg seems to be enjoying the attention. After all, he’s grown accustomed to it.
Tweet Share Share Comment(责任编辑:资讯)
- Essential Apps to Install on your Windows PC or Mac
- Bitcoin broke through $5,000—but there are major risks ahead
- NK, US leaders may have multiple summits
- N. Korea's border region designated as 'military
- Sinner vs. Michelsen 2024 livestream: Watch US Open for free
- 24 Museums Dedicated to Black History
- Revolving door hiring reemerges as controversy at state
- Oculus says Santa Cruz prototype will be available 'in the next year'
- Singapore's presidential palace may host Kim
- 2016's $400 GPU vs. 2019's $400 GPUs
- Snake makes a sudden appearance on driver's sssssside window
- 第一届大湾区校园防溺水安全教育系列活动即将开启
- Two Koreas to unite for East Asian competition
-
TL;DR:Secure access to your favorite free porn sites with a VPN. The best service for unblocking por ...[详细]
-
Kim Kardashian sticks up for Khloe in a tweet targeting Lamar Odom
Understandably, it does not appear that Kim Kardashian West and Lamar Odom are friends.Kardashian We ...[详细] -
If you were impressed with last year's Pixels, prepare to be blown away by this year's Pixel 2 and P ...[详细]
-
Trump 'truly believes in North Korea's economic potential'
U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday that he believes North Korea will be a great economic nation ...[详细] -
12 Sculptures Made From Recycled Materials
Most trash is destined for some forlorn landfill or recycling center, but when it finds its way into ...[详细] -
Man City sink Chelsea to close in on title
LONDON:Manchester City opened up a 13-point lead at the top of the Premier League as Kevin De Bruyne ...[详细] -
Singapore ramps up security for Trump
In this June 9, 2018, file photo, Singapore police officers patrol the grounds around the St. Regis ...[详细] -
成立农机应急队伍,构建科学防灾体系_南方+_南方plus为进一步提升农机抗灾救灾应急作业能力和水平,8月15日—16日,广东省农业农村厅在梅州举办农机使用一线技能人才能力提升暨防灾救灾应急培训班第四期 ...[详细]
-
50 Places to Eat and Drink Before You Die
A pizzeria that uses an active volcano as an oven in Guatemala. A soup that’s been simmering f ...[详细] -
There's an amazing easter egg inside the special edition Xbox One X
Hidden inside the hardware of the special Scorpio edition of the Xbox One X is an graving of Master ...[详细]
21 Unexpected Wonders in Colorado’s Vibrant Cities and Small Towns
Karatsev beats Murray in Sydney final
- 13 Unbelievable Underwater Wonders in Florida
- No Djokovic would make Australian Open wide open: Zverev
- 成立农机应急队伍,构建科学防灾体系
- Oculus says Santa Cruz prototype will be available 'in the next year'
- Keurig K Mini deal — get $30 off at Target
- Snake makes a sudden appearance on driver's sssssside window
- Millie Bobby Brown wants people to know that hair does not equal beauty