Shutterstock
Michael Bloomberg is now qualified to appear in Wednesday’s Democratic presidential debate in Las Vegas. This is the first time he will be on stage with the other candidates for the 2020 election.
In order to qualify, Bloomberg needed to meet the Democratic National Committee-mandated polling threshold, which he met on Tuesday. An NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist survey found that he’s polling at 19% nationally.
This placed Bloomberg behind Bernie Sanders, who is currently polling far ahead of the other candidates at 31%. Sanders remains popular thanks to his stances on college debt relief, income inequality, Medicare-for-all, and climate change.
Bloomberg has skipped out during the first four contests, including the caucus in Nevada on Saturday. Instead of focusing on the early primary states, he’s instead hoping to make his mark on Super Tuesday, when several states will vote.
What he’s attempting is something that no other nominee in nearly fifty years has ever been able to accomplish. He’s using his massive personal wealth as a way to try to make it happen.
So far, Bloomberg has spent over $400 million on digital, television and radio ads. This includes a $10 million spot during the Super Bowl. The strategy seems to be working so far, considering polls have risen in his favor.
Kevin Sheekey, Bloomberg’s campaign manager, said that the candidate is “looking forward to joining the other Democratic candidates on stage and making the case for why he’s the best candidate to defeat Donald Trump and unite the country.”
“The opportunity to discuss his workable and achievable plans for the challenges facing this country is an important part of the campaign process,” he concluded.
Related: Bloomberg Caught Supporting ‘Stop and Frisk’ in Resurfaced 2015 Audio Clip
As Bloomberg rises in the polls, the other candidates prepare to attack. Bloomberg is already under incredible scrutiny over past remarks that he’s made, such as his prior support for the controversial ‘stop and frisk’ procedure.
There have also been allegations that he fostered a culture of discrimination against women during the late 1980s and 1990s at Bloomberg L.P.
Bloomberg’s recent ad campaigns have been focused on attacking Bernie Sanders, accusing him of “deploy[ing] the very same attacks and tactics against Mike,” and stating, “Bernie’s New Bro… Donald Trump.”
Sanders was quick to denounce the idea, retaliating with a photo of Bloomberg and Donald Trump golfing together.
https://t.co/XwB74v3u0w pic.twitter.com/UID9vVK1yi
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) February 17, 2020
Bloomberg also released an ad that tied Sanders to tweets in which his assumed supporters attacked other candidates. Sarah Ford, Sander’s campaign deputy director of communications issued a statement about the attack from Bloomberg, saying:
“Sen. Sanders is building a multi-racial, multi-ethnic, multi-generational movement for justice. We recognize that our opponents in the establishment would like to perpetuate a false myth to discount the breadth and diversity of our supporters–and we categorically reject it.”
Related: Bernie Sanders Pledges to Immediately Do This in All 50 States if Elected
