Joe Biden has a message for Michael Bloomberg: “Come on.”
Bloomberg, the billionaire former mayor of New York, filed a statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission on Wednesday, but he has not yet announced a presidential run. Bloomberg, 77, is considering the bid because he sees himself as a viable centrist alternative to Biden.
Appearing Friday on CNN, Biden, also 77, said he’s fine with Bloomberg’s potential entrance and that he was confident he could secure the Democratic nomination.
“Come on,” Biden said while motioning with his hands and grinning. “I say ‘come on.’ I welcome the competition.”
When asked about reports that Bloomberg’s potential run is because he doesn’t think Biden is in shape to be president, the former vice president pushed back.
“Watch me. The idea that I’m not in better shape than Mayor Bloomberg, physically and otherwise. Look, this — Trump is so bad as a president and so corrupt as a president that everybody in America who has ever been involved in politics, especially if they have a billion dollars, thinks they can beat Trump,” Biden said.
“Maybe they could. And so, what do you have to do? I’m the guy sitting at the top of the pyramid. I get it. I’m a big boy,” he added.
Biden was also asked about former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, who entered the presidential race this month. Biden called Patrick “a good guy” but dismissed a challenge, noting that the former governor recently had a campaign event that was canceled because no one showed up.
