Former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg who spent half a billion into his Democratic presidential campaign announced that he is dropping out after a disappointing showing on Super Tuesday and is endorsing former Vice President Joe Biden.
“Three months ago, I entered the race for President to defeat Donald Trump. Today, I am leaving the race for the same reason: to defeat Donald Trump — because it is clear to me that staying in would make achieving that goal more difficult,” Bloomberg said in a statement Wednesday morning.
“After yesterday’s results, the delegate math has become virtually impossible – and a viable path to the nomination no longer exists. But I remain clear-eyed about my overriding objective: victory in November. Not for me, but for our country,” he added.
Bloomberg added in the statement that he is endorsing Biden, saying he is endorsing he is “uniting behind” the former Vice President after sweeping nine of the 14 contest, including the rich delegate state of Texas on Tuesday.
“I’ve always believed that defeating Donald Trump starts with uniting behind the candidate with the best shot to do it,” Bloomberg said. “After yesterday’s vote, it is clear that candidate is my friend and a great American, Joe Biden. Today I am glad to endorse him — and I will work to make him the next President of the United States.”
Minutes after Bloomberg’s announcement, Biden praised his rival on Twitter.
.@MikeBloomberg, I can’t thank you enough for your support—and for your tireless work on everything from gun safety reform to climate change. This race is bigger than candidates and bigger than politics. It’s about defeating Donald Trump, and with your help, we’re gonna do it.
— Joe Biden (Text Join to 30330) (@JoeBiden) March 4, 2020
Bloomberg spent Super Tuesday in Florida, which will hold its primary on March 17. He acknowledged that he wouldn’t not win any Super Tuesday states and the only path to the nomination would be through a contested convention.
“I don’t think I can win any other way,” Bloomberg said at his campaign office in Miami. He became testy by reporters questioning about how long he would stay in the race, and whether doing so would benefit Sanders at the expense of Biden.
“Joe’s taking votes away from me right now. I think that is true,” Bloomberg said. “Have you asked Joe whether he is going to drop out? When you ask him that, then you can call me.”
Bloomberg bypassed the first four primary contest in hopes of winning a huge chunk of delegates awarded on Super Tuesday. He spent $570 million over the course of his 100 days of his campaign on flooding the airwaves around the country with ads, opening hundreds of offices across the country, and hiring more than 2,100 people to his team. In Super Tuesday alone, Bloomberg dropped about a total of $200 million on digital, radio and tv ads. His only victory was in the tiny American Samoa caucus, where he got five delegates
However, as results of Super Tuesday showed disappointing results for the former mayor, the Bloomberg campaign were reported to reassess on Wednesday on whether or not to continue forward.
As of Wednesday, Bloomberg had accumulated 44 pledged delegates, while Biden leads the delegate count with 453. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) trails behind Biden with 382 pledged delegates, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) after losing her home state of Massachusetts has 50.
The billionaire’s endorsement follows in the footstep of other moderate Democrats flocking behind Biden to prevent Sanders from winning the Democratic nomination.
“I’ve known Joe for a very long time. I know his decency, his honesty, and his commitment to the issues that are so important to our country – including gun safety, health care, climate change, and good jobs,” Bloomberg said.
President Trump weighed in to Bloomberg dropping out shortly after on Twitter.
“Mini Mike Bloomberg just ‘quit’ the race for President. I could have told him long ago that he didn’t have what it takes, and he would have saved himself a billion dollars, the real cost. Now he will pour money into Sleepy Joe’s campaign, hoping to save face. It won’t work!” Trump tweeted.
Mini Mike Bloomberg just “quit” the race for President. I could have told him long ago that he didn’t have what it takes, and he would have saved himself a billion dollars, the real cost. Now he will pour money into Sleepy Joe’s campaign, hoping to save face. It won’t work!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 4, 2020
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