Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg will fund some 500 campaign staffers through November in an effort to oust President Trump from office, even if he loses the Democratic nomination.
Bloomberg campaign officials say they will pivot to supporting whomever the party nominates, bringing with them the team’s vast tech operation, NBC News reports.
Bloomberg was criticized for his refusal to allow staffers at his news organization to report on neither him — a longtime rule — nor his opponents in the Democratic primary race, a move the organization said was designed to provide equal footing for the primary candidates. In response to what the Trump campaign said was “clear bias,” Trump 2020 campaign manager Brad Parscale said it would no longer credential Bloomberg News.
Bloomberg and Trump ads, each costing $10 million, will go mano a mano during the NFL Super Bowl next month, on Feb. 2.
The Democratic candidates leading the race have raked in substantial fundraising hauls and mobilized large numbers of voters in key states. A record number of candidates, two of whom have self-funded with seemingly unlimited resources at their disposal, has encouraged predictions of a brokered convention. The Democratic convention is set to take place in Wisconsin, July 13-16.
