This archive report was first published on 9 November 2019.
On November 9, 2019, Michael Bloomberg, a 77-year-old billionaire, filed paperwork to enter the 2020 presidential primary. However, his decision has not been without controversy.
Advisers to Bloomberg have expressed concerns that he may not be strong enough to win the nomination, and that his liberal opponents, such as Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, may be too radical to defeat Donald Trump.
Trump, for his part, seemed unfazed by Bloomberg's entry into the race, predicting that he would spend a lot of money on his campaign and damage Joe Biden in the process.
Speaking in his characteristic style, Trump referred to Bloomberg as 'little Michael' and implied that he had 'personal problems.'
Warren and Sanders have already begun to take on Bloomberg, warning their supporters that a billionaire seeking to buy the presidency is a threat to democracy.
Warren, campaigning in Raleigh, North Carolina, stated that a government funded by personal wealth would not work for the people, and that big money should not be able to buy elections.
As the pressure mounts on Bloomberg to begin campaigning quickly, the Democratic state chairmen in Iowa and New Hampshire have issued a joint statement suggesting that he should make himself available to voters in the early states.
