Michael Bloomberg speaks at the Christian Cultural Center on November 17, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo: Yana Paskova/Getty Images)
Nov 23, 2019
Billionaire businessman and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Sunday officially announced he is entering the 2020 Democratic presidential primary, launching a $30 million ad blitz in which he presents himself as "jobs creator" and a "middle class kid who made good."
"Mike Bloomberg started as a middle class kid who had to work his way through college, then built a business from a single room to a global entity," states the narrator of an ad Bloomberg tweeted Sunday morning.
Bloomberg, a former Republican whose estimated net worth is over $54 billion, said he believes his "unique set of experiences in business, government, and philanthropy will enable me to win and lead."
The businessman's ad does not mention specific policy proposals or rival 2020 Democratic candidates, but the short video does take a thinly veiled swipe at Medicare for All.
"There's an America waiting to be rebuilt, where everyone without health insurance is guaranteed to get it and everyone who likes theirs can go ahead and keep it," the ad states, echoing a common insurance industry talking point against single-payer.
Ahead of his official announcement, Bloomberg's expected entry into the 2020 race drew sharp criticism from progressives, including Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), presidential contenders who have both taken aim at the wealth of billionaires like Bloomberg with their tax proposals.
On Friday, Sanders expressed disgust at Bloomberg's $30 million ad purchase.
"If you can't build grassroots support for your candidacy, you have no business running for president," Sanders said in a statement. "The American people are sick and tired of the power of billionaires, and I suspect they won't react well to someone trying to buy an election."
And on Saturday, Warren tweeted:
\u201cMike Bloomberg is placing $34 million in TV ads in one week\u2014the most of any presidential candidate in history.\n\nThat\u2019s one way to pay less under my #WealthTax. Because in a Warren administration, he and his billionaire friends would finally have to pay their fair share.\u201d— Elizabeth Warren (@Elizabeth Warren) 1574540921
As Common Dreams reported last week, progressives have warned that the candidacies of Bloomberg and former private equity executive Deval Patrick represent a last-ditch effort by the wealthy donor class to maintain control over the Democratic Party.
"We've got two super-rich guys who are scared to death that a progressive's going to win the primary and then win the general," Charles Chamberlain, chairman of progressive group Democracy for America, told Politico. "This is about fear of victory, not fear of loss."
Why Your Ongoing Support Is Essential
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Billionaire businessman and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Sunday officially announced he is entering the 2020 Democratic presidential primary, launching a $30 million ad blitz in which he presents himself as "jobs creator" and a "middle class kid who made good."
"Mike Bloomberg started as a middle class kid who had to work his way through college, then built a business from a single room to a global entity," states the narrator of an ad Bloomberg tweeted Sunday morning.
Bloomberg, a former Republican whose estimated net worth is over $54 billion, said he believes his "unique set of experiences in business, government, and philanthropy will enable me to win and lead."
The businessman's ad does not mention specific policy proposals or rival 2020 Democratic candidates, but the short video does take a thinly veiled swipe at Medicare for All.
"There's an America waiting to be rebuilt, where everyone without health insurance is guaranteed to get it and everyone who likes theirs can go ahead and keep it," the ad states, echoing a common insurance industry talking point against single-payer.
Ahead of his official announcement, Bloomberg's expected entry into the 2020 race drew sharp criticism from progressives, including Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), presidential contenders who have both taken aim at the wealth of billionaires like Bloomberg with their tax proposals.
On Friday, Sanders expressed disgust at Bloomberg's $30 million ad purchase.
"If you can't build grassroots support for your candidacy, you have no business running for president," Sanders said in a statement. "The American people are sick and tired of the power of billionaires, and I suspect they won't react well to someone trying to buy an election."
And on Saturday, Warren tweeted:
\u201cMike Bloomberg is placing $34 million in TV ads in one week\u2014the most of any presidential candidate in history.\n\nThat\u2019s one way to pay less under my #WealthTax. Because in a Warren administration, he and his billionaire friends would finally have to pay their fair share.\u201d— Elizabeth Warren (@Elizabeth Warren) 1574540921
As Common Dreams reported last week, progressives have warned that the candidacies of Bloomberg and former private equity executive Deval Patrick represent a last-ditch effort by the wealthy donor class to maintain control over the Democratic Party.
"We've got two super-rich guys who are scared to death that a progressive's going to win the primary and then win the general," Charles Chamberlain, chairman of progressive group Democracy for America, told Politico. "This is about fear of victory, not fear of loss."
Billionaire businessman and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Sunday officially announced he is entering the 2020 Democratic presidential primary, launching a $30 million ad blitz in which he presents himself as "jobs creator" and a "middle class kid who made good."
"Mike Bloomberg started as a middle class kid who had to work his way through college, then built a business from a single room to a global entity," states the narrator of an ad Bloomberg tweeted Sunday morning.
Bloomberg, a former Republican whose estimated net worth is over $54 billion, said he believes his "unique set of experiences in business, government, and philanthropy will enable me to win and lead."
The businessman's ad does not mention specific policy proposals or rival 2020 Democratic candidates, but the short video does take a thinly veiled swipe at Medicare for All.
"There's an America waiting to be rebuilt, where everyone without health insurance is guaranteed to get it and everyone who likes theirs can go ahead and keep it," the ad states, echoing a common insurance industry talking point against single-payer.
Ahead of his official announcement, Bloomberg's expected entry into the 2020 race drew sharp criticism from progressives, including Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), presidential contenders who have both taken aim at the wealth of billionaires like Bloomberg with their tax proposals.
On Friday, Sanders expressed disgust at Bloomberg's $30 million ad purchase.
"If you can't build grassroots support for your candidacy, you have no business running for president," Sanders said in a statement. "The American people are sick and tired of the power of billionaires, and I suspect they won't react well to someone trying to buy an election."
And on Saturday, Warren tweeted:
\u201cMike Bloomberg is placing $34 million in TV ads in one week\u2014the most of any presidential candidate in history.\n\nThat\u2019s one way to pay less under my #WealthTax. Because in a Warren administration, he and his billionaire friends would finally have to pay their fair share.\u201d— Elizabeth Warren (@Elizabeth Warren) 1574540921
As Common Dreams reported last week, progressives have warned that the candidacies of Bloomberg and former private equity executive Deval Patrick represent a last-ditch effort by the wealthy donor class to maintain control over the Democratic Party.
"We've got two super-rich guys who are scared to death that a progressive's going to win the primary and then win the general," Charles Chamberlain, chairman of progressive group Democracy for America, told Politico. "This is about fear of victory, not fear of loss."
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.