Bloomberg launches 2020 bid: ‘I’m running for president to defeat Donald Trump’ Washington Times, Nov 24, 2019
Former New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg on Sunday announced his candidacy for president, giving voters another more moderate and pragmatic option in the crowded field of Democrat hopefuls.
He entered the race with a sharp focus on knocking President Trump out of the White House.
“I’m running for president to defeat Donald Trump and rebuild America. We cannot afford four more years of President Trump’s reckless and unethical actions,” Mr. Bloomberg said in a statement.
He condemned Mr. Trump as “an existential threat to our country and our values.”
“If he wins another term in office, we may never recover from the damage. The stakes could not be higher,” he said. “We must win this election. And we must begin rebuilding America. I believe my unique set of experiences in business, government, and philanthropy will enable me to win and lead.”
The rhetoric echoed the campaign battle cry of former Vice President Joseph R. Biden, a top contender for the nomination who faces a formidable opponent in Mr. Bloomberg, a billionaire businessman who can easily self-finance his campaign.
His late entry in the race, as well as that of former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, underscores dissatisfaction in some quarters of the Democratic Party with the current crop of candidates.
Mr. Bloomberg has flirted with a White House run for years. He has poured his fortune into various political causes, especially gun-control efforts such as his Everytown for Gun Safety.
He has been all over the map politically. He had been a Democrat before switching to the Republican Party for his 2001 mayoral run. He later became an independent before re-registering as a Democrat ahead of the 2018 midterm elections.