Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg released a campaign ad attacking President Trump ahead of the State of the Union, blaming Trump for the nation’s division at a time when a commander in chief typically calls for unity.
“The real state of the union? A nation divided by an angry, out of control president. A White House beset by lies, chaos, and corruption. An administration that has failed the American people,” the narrator of the ad says.
“It doesn’t have to be this way. Next year, we can have a leader who brings people together, solves problems, and gets results,” the video continues. “Mike Bloomberg will get it done.”
The Bloomberg campaign is running the ad on several cable news channels, including Fox, CNN, and MSNBC, before Trump delivers his State of the Union address around 9 p.m. EST. Bloomberg, the former mayor of New York City who entered the race in November of last year, has spent over $100 million on television ads, including an $11 million spot during the Super Bowl.
Recent polls also show Bloomberg, 77, has become a serious contender for president, leading Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren in one national poll. And a recent change in Democratic National Committee rules may allow Bloomberg to qualify for the next Democratic presidential debate, taking place on Feb. 19 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Bloomberg has elicited the ire of both Democrats and Republicans for self-funding his presidential campaign. Warren lambasted the DNC after it removed the debate requirement for a minimum number of donors. She tweeted, “Billionaires shouldn’t be allowed to play by different rules — on the debate stage, in our democracy, or in our government.”
The DNC didn’t change the rules to ensure good, diverse candidates could remain on the debate stage. They shouldn’t change the rules to let a billionaire on. Billionaires shouldn’t be allowed to play by different rules—on the debate stage, in our democracy, or in our government.
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) January 31, 2020
Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, 38, suggested the DNC was engaging in a pay-to-play deal with Bloomberg through the rule change. “Billionaire Bloomberg just bought the @DNC,” she tweeted.
Billionaire Bloomberg just bought the @DNC. #PayToPlay #StandWithTulsi
— Tulsi Gabbard ? (@TulsiGabbard) January 31, 2020
Trump, who faces a Senate impeachment trial vote on Wednesday, accused “Mini Mike Bloomberg” of rigging the election against “Crazy Bernie.”
“Many of the ads you are watching were paid for by Mini Mike Bloomberg. HE is going nowhere, just wasting his money, but he is getting the DNC to rig the election against Crazy Bernie, something they wouldn’t do for @CoryBooker and others. They are doing it to Bernie again, 2016,” the president wrote on Twitter.
Many of the ads you are watching were paid for by Mini Mike Bloomberg. He is going nowhere, just wasting his money, but he is getting the DNC to rig the election against Crazy Bernie, something they wouldn’t do for @CoryBooker and others. They are doing it to Bernie again, 2016.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 2, 2020
