Bloomberg qualifies for next debate after poll boost

[webfact]

Bloomberg qualifies for next debate after poll boost

By Jason Lange

 

FILE PHOTO: Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg speaks during a campaign event at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee, U.S. February 12, 2020. REUTERS/Doug Strickland

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Tuesday qualified for this week's Democratic presidential debate in Nevada, putting him on the same stage as his rivals for the first time in the race for the party's nomination.

 

The debate on Wednesday will be the ninth in the contest for who will challenge Republican President Donald Trump in the Nov. 3 election.

 

A late entry to the race, Bloomberg, 78, has risen in public opinion polls as he pours money from his estimated $60 billion personal fortune into a national campaign, spending hundreds of millions of dollars on television ads.

 

When he takes the stage on Wednesday, he is likely to be challenged directly by rivals over his use as mayor of a policing policy widely seen as discriminatory and of supposed sexist practices at his company.

 

"There's a lot to talk about with Michael Bloomberg," former vice president and candidate for the nomination Joe Biden told NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday.

 

Bloomberg had support from 19% of the people surveyed in a NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll released on Tuesday.

 

With that result, he met the Democratic Party's requirements for debate qualification by receiving double-digit support in four national polls recognised by the party, his campaign said in a statement.

 

While Bloomberg is not competing in the first four nomination contests - Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina - he hopes to start winning delegates beginning on Super Tuesday on March 3, when 14 states will vote.

 

When Michael Bloomberg steps onto the Democratic debate stage for the first time on Wednesday, he will face attacks from his rival candidates over his past support for policies he claims to no longer support. This report produced by Chris Dignam.

 

At least five other candidates have qualified for Wednesday's debate ahead of Nevada's Feb. 22 caucuses: Biden, Senators Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobuchar, and former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, Pete Buttigieg.

 

Warren and Sanders charge that Bloomberg is trying to buy the election. He responds that he is playing by the rules and has offered to fund the Democratic effort to beat Trump even if he doesn't win the nomination.

 

He will likely be grilled about his support while New York mayor of a policing strategy that ensnared blacks and Latinos disproportionately.

 

Bloomberg apologised for that policy, known as "stop and frisk," just before announcing he was running for the Democratic presidential nomination.

 

His campaign has declined to comment on criticism over 2008 remarks in which he tied a housing market collapse to a ban on a discriminatory housing practice known as redlining.

 

He has also expressed regret over making inappropriate jokes.

 

"Did I ever tell a bawdy joke? Yeah, sure I did. And do I regret it? Yes. It's embarrassing," Bloomberg told ABC's "The View" on Jan. 15. "But, you know, that's the way I grew up."

 

The Washington Post on Saturday published what it said was a copy of a 32-page booklet distributed at a party in 1990 that included sexist remarks by Bloomberg, reportedly compiled by his colleagues.

 

The Post also chronicled numerous discrimination lawsuits filed against Bloomberg LP, a major provider of news and financial information, over the last three decades.

 

In one case, a saleswoman filed a lawsuit alleging that when she told Bloomberg she was pregnant in 1995, his response was, "Kill it." Bloomberg has denied making the remark, and the lawsuit was settled. The Washington Post published comments by a man who said he witnessed Bloomberg's remark.

 

Bloomberg said in the ABC interview that his company had experienced "very few" cases of sexual harassment given its large size, and said he thinks "most people would say we're a great place to work."

 

He said the company would not release women from non-disclosure agreements that were part of legal settlements, some of which stemmed from allegations of sexual harassment. Warren has called on Bloomberg to release the women from the agreements.

 

On Sunday, Bloomberg campaign spokeswoman Julie Wood said in an emailed statement regarding the allegations in the Washington Post:

 

"Virtually all of this has been reported over the past two decades. In any large organization, there are going to be complaints — but Mike simply does not tolerate any kind of discrimination or harassment, and he's created cultures that are all about equality and inclusion."

 

(Reporting by Jason Lange and Doina Chiacu in Washington; Editing by Sonya Hepinstall)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-02-19

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[Cryingdick]

Well as long as he can teach the people who work for his campaign how to act in an appropriate manner in the work place he should be fine.

[Jingthing]

Get the damaging stuff aired and forgotten as early as possible. That's the way it's done. There was another democratic party billionaire that spend a lot of money and got almost no support. It's not only about Bloomberg's money. Yes it's money but it's also who he is and what he's accomplished and what he's trying to accomplish now (DEFEAT 45!). 

[Cryingdick]

1 minute ago, Jingthing said:

Get the damaging stuff aired and forgotten as early as possible. That's the way it's done. There was another democratic party billionaire that spend a lot of money and got almost no support. It's not only about Bloomberg's money. Yes it's money but it's also who he is and what he's accomplished and what he's trying to accomplish now (DEFEAT 45!). 

 

Translation: it's the money.

[Tug]

You can tell donald is rattled he in full distraction mode lol get her done mike!!!

[Cryingdick]

Just now, Tug said:

You can tell donald is rattled he in full distraction mode lol get her done mike!!!

 

Almost as terrified as the dems who are alarmed their party is going to shatter into two separate tribes.

[Boon Mee]

These democrats are totally disorganized to the point it will be massive low voter turnout in November. 

There isn't one of the candidates in that bunch who has a ghost of of chance beating DJT. 

[bendejo]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

when she told Bloomberg she was pregnant in 1995, his response was, "Kill it."

Well, that'll qualify him as pro-choice!   555

But no loss, the anti-abortion crowd already has their candidate.

 

I haven't watched a Dem debate since the 2nd one, too damn depressing.  But this I'll watch, this is probably as granular as MB will get during the primaries.  His line at his rallies is "I'm running to defeat Donald T___p!"  And that's it.  The pack of them are going to go after the New Kid and try to make a bloomburger out of him before they start going after each other.  I'm expecting a few "I've got nothing to lose" attacks.  Don't think MB is beyond butting into one of these confrontations, saying "you're both wrong."

He's a very sharp, intelligent guy, and he has no need to tell anybody that, it's the empty barrels that make all the noise, right?  I think it's going to come down to him and Amy.

 

 

[Cryingdick]

1 minute ago, Boon Mee said:

These democrats are totally disorganized to the point it will be massive low voter turnout in November. 

There isn't one of the candidates in that bunch who has a ghost of of chance beating DJT. 

 

The other thing going against them is they are not gracious losers. I mean that in the sense that when Bernie and Bloomberg face off when one wins the losing side won't accept it. I know they claim they will unite but this is not in their DNA. 

 

Expect a train wreck of political maneuvering, recounts, court injunctions, etc. Mike is having problems passing the purity tests for the woke. Bernie has the appeal of outrage and that's what you are going to see when Mike skates right past him into the nomination.

[Tug]

I expect mike will be dry and factual after it’s his business information facts truth so people and business can make sound decisions I’m sure he will be attacked it’s a debate after all but I doubt anyone will be advocating foreign governments to interfere lol

[Cryingdick]

24 minutes ago, Tug said:

I expect mike will be dry and factual after it’s his business information facts truth so people and business can make sound decisions I’m sure he will be attacked it’s a debate after all but I doubt anyone will be advocating foreign governments to interfere lol

 

It's almost like we have plucked the only honest businessman on Wall Street out and placed him in the election. lol 

[Baerboxer]

3 hours ago, Cryingdick said:

 

It's almost like we have plucked the only honest businessman on Wall Street out and placed him in the election. lol 

 

I read that he's considering having Hilary as his VP running mate.

 

Hope his life insurance premiums are all paid up to date!

[Kelsall]

Another nail in Bernie's coffin.

 

"Joe, Joe, he's our man

If he can't do it... Mike can!"

[Jingthing]

45 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

I read that he's considering having Hilary as his VP running mate.

 

Hope his life insurance premiums are all paid up to date!

Fake news from Drudge a garbage source. 

[ThaiBunny]

Just now, Jingthing said:

Fake news from Drudge a garbage source. 

It was Drudge who broke the "news" that Monica had been giving Bill the odd head job. He's just a Republican shill

[Jingthing]

18 minutes ago, Kelsall said:

Another nail in Bernie's coffin.

 

"Joe, Joe, he's our man

If he can't do it... Mike can!"

Unfortunately in my view Bernie is politically alive and kicking and quite likely to arrive at the convention with the most delegates but not enough for a first ballot win. Then the democrats will face an epic decision. Nomination a democratic socialist or <deleted> off the Bernie bros who as we know can be very nasty when they feel wronged. 

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/02/18/bernie-sanders-is-not-just-garden-variety-social-democrat/

 

 

Bernie Sanders is not just a garden-variety social democrat

[Tug]

51 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

I read that he's considering having Hilary as his VP running mate.

 

Hope his life insurance premiums are all paid up to date!

Naaa just more fake news this time from drudge 

[Jingthing]

5 minutes ago, ThaiBunny said:

It was Drudge who broke the "news" that Monica had been giving Bill the odd head job. He's just a Republican shill

Ancient history. 

[Jingthing]

The debate expectations for Bloomberg are quite low. Everyone else is expected to gang up on him except perhaps Klobuchar. If he manages to hold his own under such a barrage much less actually winning the debate it will be seen as a Bloomberg win. In politics low expectations are your friend. Of course he might melt down as well. Definitely a big deal for him. 

[neeray]

I think of all these old farts every morning when I wake up. I don't know where they get the energy at 73 through 78 to fight the fight.

[tlandtday]

Who in their right mind would want to elect Mr. Wall Street as their President?  Funny thing is Warren attacks Wall Street but let's see how much she attacks in the debates.  We will soon see how many in this campaign are real by their actions against Mr. Wall Street.

[cycolista]

6 hours ago, Boon Mee said:

These democrats are totally disorganized to the point it will be massive low voter turnout in November. 

There isn't one of the candidates in that bunch who has a ghost of of chance beating DJT. 

You mean like the low voter turn out in 2018 that made Polosi speaker?

[Jingthing]

1 hour ago, tlandtday said:

Who in their right mind would want to elect Mr. Wall Street as their President?  Funny thing is Warren attacks Wall Street but let's see how much she attacks in the debates.  We will soon see how many in this campaign are real by their actions against Mr. Wall Street.

Against 45 I would be happy to elect some random Uber driver. 

[Redline]

8 hours ago, Boon Mee said:

These democrats are totally disorganized to the point it will be massive low voter turnout in November. 

There isn't one of the candidates in that bunch who has a ghost of of chance beating DJT. 

Except Bloomberg 

[Chiphigh]

11 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Get the damaging stuff aired and forgotten as early as possible. That's the way it's done. There was another democratic party billionaire that spend a lot of money and got almost no support. It's not only about Bloomberg's money. Yes it's money but it's also who he is and what he's accomplished and what he's trying to accomplish now (DEFEAT 45!). 

Cause we all know that a democratic politician can be forgiven regardless of what they say and the exact opposite is in effect for Any republican. 

 

No double standards here at all. 

 

And they will throw in a virtue signaling example to prove their virtues. 

[Tug]

11 minutes ago, Chiphigh said:

Cause we all know that a democratic politician can be forgiven regardless of what they say and the exact opposite is in effect for Any republican. 

 

No double standards here at all. 

 

And they will throw in a virtue signaling example to prove their virtues. 

Geeshh were do you start with a statement like that?!?here a few for you attacking pows and gold star family’s not willing to fly the flag at 1/2 staff for a senator and hero whilst beeing a draft dodger separating baby’s from their mothers than losing track misappropriation funds throwing our allies to the wolves to be killed with there family’s saying he could shoot someone and not lose votes no sir and you can take your virtue bs deflection and put it(censored) were it belongs double standered indeed!

[rudi49jr]

19 hours ago, Cryingdick said:

The other thing going against them is they are not gracious losers.

Unlike your darling president, that is? He began whining before the election already that if he lost, the vote was rigged and he was not going to accept the result. How about that for a gracious loser?

[bendejo]

9 hours ago, Chiphigh said:

Cause we all know that a democratic politician can be forgiven regardless of what they say and the exact opposite is in effect for Any republican. 

Yes, exactly the way the MAGA crowd has abandoned DT for all the lies and insults he comes out with.  His fans will never forgive him for passing secrets to the Russians right there in the Oval Office nor for capitulating to Putin in Helsinki. 

 

Do you actually read the stuff you write?  Does someone else write it for you?

 

[bendejo]

28 minutes ago, rudi49jr said:

Unlike your darling president, that is? He began whining before the election already that if he lost, the vote was rigged and he was not going to accept the result. How about that for a gracious loser?

I was expecting him to be called out on that by law enforcement a day after the election: what do you know of rigged polls, etc?

 

[Chiphigh]

14 hours ago, Tug said:

Geeshh were do you start with a statement like that?!?here a few for you attacking pows and gold star family’s not willing to fly the flag at 1/2 staff for a senator and hero whilst beeing a draft dodger separating baby’s from their mothers than losing track misappropriation funds throwing our allies to the wolves to be killed with there family’s saying he could shoot someone and not lose votes no sir and you can take your virtue bs deflection and put it(censored) were it belongs double standered indeed!

Wow, quite an emotional rant. 

 

I Hit a nerve, so your deflection is understandable and predictable.