Michael Bloomberg says he has “no expectations” going into the Democratic primary contest’s biggest day.
The former New York City mayor said on Tuesday that he has “no intention of dropping out” of the race after centrists Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar ended their presidential bids and endorsed Joe Biden in an effort to prevent Bernie Sanders from winning the nomination.
Bloomberg, who is on the ballot for the first time on Super Tuesday, has pumped more than $500 million of his own funds into his campaign and pushed back on those who say he should follow Buttigieg and Klobuchar’s lead.
“I have no intention of dropping out,” he said. “We’re in it to win it. I don’t understand why you would not ask other candidates that,” adding that instead of him taking votes that would go to Biden, “Joe’s taking votes away from me.”
Bloomberg also said that he thinks the only way to win is through a contested convention.
“I don’t think I can win any other way,” the former mayor said.
During remarks in Florida, he also knocked Sanders, a self-avowed socialist who has praised aspects of Cuba’s government under the late communist leader Fidel Castro. Bloomberg said that “we will not win Florida with a candidate who sings the praises of Fidel Castro.”
Sanders and Biden are neck-and-neck in nationwide polling. A RealClearPolitics national average of polls shows that Sanders, once the front-runner, has seen a drop in recent days while Biden has gained. Sanders has 26% support, and Biden has 24.6% support, according to the average. Bloomberg trails the two with 16.2% support.
