Bernie Sanders Blasts Michael Bloomberg's $30 Million Ad Blitz, Saying 'He's Disgusted' Newsweek, Nov 23, 2019
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders ripped into former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's $30 million advertising campaign, as the latter is reportedly considering entering the 2020 Democratic presidential race.
Sanders' statement came after The New York Times reported that Bloomberg spent over $30 million for a week's worth of campaign ads. Sanders thought the move this late in the 2020 race was an attempt to bypass the traditional political process.
"I'm disgusted by the idea that Michael Bloomberg or any other billionaire thinks they can circumvent the political process and spend tens of millions of dollars to buy our elections," Sanders said.
The massive amount of money spent on the ad campaign is significantly more than each Democratic candidate, with the exception of billionaire Tom Steyer, spent on ads in 2019. The Hill reported that Bloomberg's ad campaign is the largest amount any candidate has spent for a week of advertising.
"It's just the latest example of a rigged political system that we are going to change when we're in the White House," Sanders said.