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'{{short description|Presidential campaign by Michael Bloomberg for the 2020 nomination}} {{Use American English|date = November 2019}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2019}} {{Infobox U.S. federal election campaign |logo = Mike Bloomberg 2020 presidential campaign logo.svg |campaign = [[2020 United States presidential election]] ([[2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries|Democratic primaries]]) | formed = November 21, 2019 | announced = November 24, 2019<ref>{{Cite web|first=Steve|last=Peoples|url=https://apnews.com/583b5e7ecfc84b61b470b5e8e3c4bcab|title=Michael Bloomberg launches Democratic presidential bid|date=November 24, 2019|website=[[AP News]]|access-date=November 25, 2019}}</ref> | suspended = March 4, 2020<ref name="auto3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/mike-bloomberg-drops-out-of-the-2020-presidential-race-2020-3|title=Mike Bloomberg drops out of the 2020 presidential race|last=Sheth|first=Eliza Relman, Sonam|website=Business Insider|access-date=2020-03-04}}</ref> |candidate = {{ubl|'''[[Michael Bloomberg]]'''|[[Mayor of New York City]] (2002–2013)}} |affiliation = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] |slogan = Rebuild America<br/>Fighting for our future<br/>A new choice for Democrats<br/>Mike Will Get It Done<br/>I Like Mike |homepage = {{url|https://www.mikebloomberg.com}} |headquarters = [[229 West 43rd Street]] (8th floor), [[New York City]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/476211-bloomberg-campaign-moves-offices-into-times-square-as-staff-grows-above-300|title=Bloomberg campaign moves headquarters to Times Square|work=[[Politico]]|first=Chris|last=Cadelago|date=December 30, 2019|access-date=December 30, 2019}}</ref> |key_people = [[Kevin Sheekey]] – [[campaign manager]]<br/>Kelly Mehlenbacher – deputy [[chief operating officer|COO]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2019/11/28/michael-bloomberg-swipes-top-staffer-from-kamala-harris-presidential-campaign/|title=Michael Bloomberg swipes top staffer from Kamala Harris' presidential campaign|first=Rich|last=Calder|date=November 28, 2019}}</ref><br/>Advisors:<br/>[[Howard Wolfson]]<br/>Jason Schecter |receipts =1119411494.07<ref>https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00728154/</ref> |receipts_footnote =<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/forms/C00728154/1377377/|title=Form 3P for Mike Bloomberg 2020, Inc.|website=docquery.fec.gov}}</ref> |fec_date =12/31/2019 }} {{Michael Bloomberg series}} The '''2020 presidential campaign of [[Michael Bloomberg]]''', a businessman and former mayor of [[New York City]], began when he filed a statement of candidacy with the [[Federal Election Commission]] for the office of [[President of the United States]] as a member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] on November 21, 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2019/11/21/campaign-2020-bloomberg-files-campaign-paperwork-no-word-yet-on-run-for-white-house/|title=Campaign 2020: Bloomberg Files Campaign Paperwork, No Word Yet On Run For White House|date=November 21, 2019|access-date=November 21, 2019|work=[[WLNY]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> His principal campaign committee was called "Mike Bloomberg 2020, Inc."<ref name=FECSoC/> The campaign officially launched on November 24, 2019, in [[Virginia]], later than most other candidates for the [[2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries|Democratic nomination]].<ref name="NYTNov24">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/24/us/politics/michael-bloomberg-2020-presidency.html |title=Michael Bloomberg Joins 2020 Democratic Field for President |last=Burns |first=Alexander |date=November 24, 2019 |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=November 24, 2019|language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Prior to launching his campaign, [[Michael Bloomberg|Bloomberg]] has been vocal in encouraging the Democratic Party to field a candidate with the best chance of defeating incumbent President [[Donald Trump]]. His political positions include [[gun control]], [[climate change]] prevention, and city innovation. Bloomberg opted not to compete in the early states of [[Iowa]], [[New Hampshire]], [[Nevada]] and [[South Carolina]], instead beginning his campaign with the [[Super Tuesday]] states. He financed his campaign personally and refused donations. He spent over five hundred million dollars of his own money on his campaign, one of the greatest single campaign expenditures in American history.<ref name="foxbusiness" /> His campaign heavily relied on advertising, including the use of nationally aired television ads, social media [[Internet celebrity|influencers]], and billboards in high-visibility locations. Bloomberg dropped out of the race on March 4, 2020, after winning only the territory of [[American Samoa]] on Super Tuesday while missing the 15% threshold for proportional delegates in several states.<ref name="auto3"/> He subsequently endorsed former Vice President [[Joe Biden]] for the nomination, and announced an effort to use his campaign infrastructure to support Biden's primary bid and the eventual nominee.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-05/bloomberg-plans-new-entity-to-boost-biden-and-defeat-trump|title=Michael Bloomberg Plans New Entity to Boost Biden and Defeat Trump|date=March 5, 2020|via=www.bloomberg.com}}</ref> His lack of success among voters was attributed to poor debate performances, his former approval of [[stop-and-frisk in New York City]] and allegations of a sexist working environment at his company, [[Bloomberg LP]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/03/04/what-bloomberg-got-wrong-121007|title=What Bloomberg Got Wrong|first=Jeff|last=Greenfield|website=POLITICO}}</ref> == Background == Michael Bloomberg is a billionaire businessman who ran as a Republican for Mayor of New York City in 2001, serving from 2002 to 2013. At various times in his life, he has been a Democrat, a Republican and an Independent. On March 5, 2019, Bloomberg announced that he would not run for president in 2020; instead he encouraged the Democratic Party to "nominate a Democrat who will be in the strongest position to defeat [[Donald Trump]]".<ref>{{Cite news |website=[[AP News]]|first1=Steve |last1=Peoples|first2=Julie |last2=Pace|title=Ex-NYC Mayor Bloomberg won't run for president in 2020 |url=https://www.apnews.com/8a5d3aebc5bb4e4e97d301e119cd95a2 |date=March 5, 2019 |access-date=November 17, 2019}}</ref> Sometime during the spring of 2019, Bloomberg also founded [[Hawkfish (technology company)|Hawkfish]], a data and tech start-up focused on supporting Democratic candidates. The company was reportedly active in Virginia and Kentucky elections before shifting focus to the Bloomberg campaign.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Brian|first=Schwartz|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/12/23/mike-bloomberg-campaign-uses-tech-firm-he-founded-earlier-this-year.html|title=Mike Bloomberg is plowing millions of dollars into a secretive tech firm he founded months ago as he seeks the White House|work=CNBC}}</ref> On October 14, 2019, a day before the [[2020 Democratic Party presidential debates and forums#Fourth debate (October 15, 2019)|Democratic Party's fourth presidential debate]], it was reported that Bloomberg was "still looking at" entering the race if [[Joe Biden]] were to drop out, but that "nothing can happen unless Biden drops out", according to an unnamed source reported to be close to the situation.<ref>{{Cite news |website=[[CNBC]] |first=Brian|last=Schwartz |title=Mike Bloomberg keeps talking to allies about running for president as Joe Biden struggles against Elizabeth Warren |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/14/bloomberg-signals-he-would-run-for-president-if-biden-struggles-against-warren.html |date=October 14, 2019 |access-date=November 17, 2019}}</ref> Fellow [[billionaire]] [[Warren Buffett]] had expressed his approval of a potential Bloomberg presidential campaign as early as February 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/25/warren-buffett-i-would-support-mike-bloomberg-for-president-if-he-announced-tomorrow.html|title=Warren Buffett: I would support Mike Bloomberg for president if he were to run in 2020|last=Belvedere|first=Matthew|date=February 25, 2019|website=[[CNBC]]|language=en|access-date=February 28, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/billionaire-warren-buffett-president-michael-bloomberg-endorse-good-1343324|title=Billionaire Warren Buffett Says Billionaire Michael Bloomberg 'Would Be a Very Good President'|last=Marcin|first=Tim|date=February 25, 2019|website=[[Newsweek]]|language=en|access-date=February 28, 2020}}</ref> == Activities prior to campaign launch == In March 2019, Bloomberg originally announced that he would not run for president.{{citation needed|date=March 2020}} However, on November 7, 2019, Bloomberg changed his mind and announced that he was taking steps to enter the [[2020 United States presidential election]], and on November 8 he officially filed for the [[2020 Alabama Democratic primary|Alabama Democratic presidential primary]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/07/mike-bloomberg-prepares-to-enter-at-least-one-democratic-primary-report.html|title=Mike Bloomberg is preparing to enter the Democratic presidential primary|first1=Mike |last1=Calia|first2=Brian |last2=Schwartz|date=November 7, 2019|work=[[CNBC]]|access-date=November 17, 2019}}</ref><ref name="cnnfiles">{{cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/11/08/politics/bloomberg-alabama-democratic-primary/index.html|title=Michael Bloomberg files to run in Alabama Democratic primary|first1=Steve |last1=Brusk|first2=Dan |last2=Merica|date=November 10, 2019|work=[[CNN]]|access-date=November 17, 2019}}</ref><ref name="wapoannouncement">{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/billionaire-and-ex-new-york-city-mayor-michael-bloomberg-is-taking-steps-to-run-for-president/2019/11/07/79db371e-01ae-11ea-9518-1e76abc088b6_story.html|title=Billionaire and ex-New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg is taking steps to run for president|first1=Matt |last1=Viser|first2=Michael |last2=Scherer|work=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=November 17, 2019}}</ref> After qualifying in Michigan, on November 12, he filed his candidacy for the Arkansas primary.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/12/politics/bloomberg-arkansas-2020-primary/index.html|title=Michael Bloomberg visits Arkansas to file for state's Democratic presidential primary|first1=Dan |last1=Merica|first2=Cristina |last2=Alesci|work=[[CNN]]|date=November 12, 2019|access-date=November 17, 2019}}</ref> On November 13, he applied for the Tennessee ballot.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2019/11/13/michael-bloomberg-tennessee-president-2020-ballot/4180302002/|title=Michael Bloomberg requests Tennessee presidential ballot petition|work=[[The Tennessean]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|first=Kimberly |last=Kruesi|date=November 13, 2019|access-date=November 17, 2019}}</ref> On November 19, he gave three separate transactions of $106,500 to the [[Democratic National Committee]] along with $800,000 to the [[Democratic Grassroots Victory Fund]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/z3bmjx/mike-bloomberg-gave-the-dnc-dollar300000-two-days-before-he-entered-the-race|title=Mike Bloomberg Gave the DNC $300K Two Days Before He Entered the 2020 Race|last=Blest|first=Paul|date=January 31, 2020|website=Vice|language=en|access-date=February 1, 2020}}</ref> Bloomberg has said he will begin his campaign with the [[Super Tuesday]] states, not competing in Iowa or New Hampshire.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/sns-bc-us--election-2020-bloomberg-new-hampshire-20191114-story.html|title=Bloomberg won't file to get on New Hampshire primary ballot|first=Julie|last=Pace|work= [[South Florida Sun-Sentinel]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|access-date=November 17, 2019|date=November 17, 2019}}</ref> He did not attend his company's second annual New Economy Forum in Beijing on November 20, a sign that his developing presidential campaign was now "dead serious".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/bensmith/mike-bloomberg-china-2020|title=Mike Bloomberg Won't Attend His Company's China Summit As His Possible Campaign Gets Serious|first=Ben|last=Smith|website=[[BuzzFeed News]]|date=November 15, 2019|access-date=November 17, 2019}}</ref> The summit was on the same day as one of the Democratic presidential primary debates in Atlanta.<ref name=reuterreportsdebate>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-bloomberg-china/bloomberg-to-skip-his-own-china-forum-next-week-as-he-mulls-presidential-run-idUSKBN1XP2F8|title=Bloomberg to skip his own China forum next week as he mulls presidential run|first1=Ginger|last1=Gibson|first2=Michael|last2=Martina|publisher=Reuters|date=November 15, 2019|access-date=November 15, 2019}}</ref> He missed the deadline to file in New Hampshire, thus reinforcing his planned strategy to focus on the Super Tuesday states on March 3,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/470731-bloomberg-does-not-file-to-run-in-new-hampshire-primary|title=Bloomberg does not file to run in New Hampshire primary|first=Tal|last=Axelrod|website=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|date=November 15, 2019|access-date=November 17, 2019}}</ref> Another sign of his presidential run came when the [[University of Minnesota]] cancelled Bloomberg's scheduled lecture at the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs on December 5, 2019, saying that it could be unlawful and against university policy to host him for such a lecture if he is a candidate.<ref name=bloomberglecture/> Bloomberg's "Everytown for Gun Safety" political bloc had previously contributed large sums of money to many Democrats running in the 2018 Minnesota statewide and legislative elections.<ref name=bloomberglecture>{{cite news|url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2019/11/15/u-of-m-cancels-bloomberg-appearance|first=Brian|last=Bakst|website=[[Minnesota Public Radio]]|date=November 15, 2019|access-date=November 17, 2019|title=U of M cancels Bloomberg appearance}}</ref> Headquartered at facilities provided by [[Bloomberg Philanthropies]], the campaign's staff at pre-launch included senior advisors [[Howard Wolfson]], communications adviser Jason Schecter, advertising creator Bill Knapp, pollster [[Doug Schoen]] along with sometimes Bloomberg Philanthropies CEO Patti Harris and political consultants Brynne Craig, [[Mitch Stewart]], and [[Dan Wagner (data scientist)|Dan Wagner]];<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/bloomberg-builds-an-all-star-political-team--and-he-might-not-even-run/2019/01/31/7546c834-2569-11e9-81fd-b7b05d5bed90_story.html|title=Bloomberg builds an all-star political team — and he might not even run|website=Washington Post}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/11/even-bloomberg-backers-worry-run-would-hand-it-to-warren.html|title=Even Bloomberg Supporters Worry a Run Would 'Hand the Nomination to Warren'|first=Gabriel|last=Debenedetti|date=November 11, 2019|website=Intelligencer}}</ref> and, at launch, [[Kevin Sheekey]] (communications, government relations & marketing head for [[Bloomberg LP]]) was campaign manager.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2019/11/25/bloomberg_campaign_chief_kevin_sheekey_trump_is_on_the_path_to_victory_this_is_a_campaign_against_trump.html|title=Bloomberg Campaign Chief Kevin Sheekey: Trump Is On The "Path To Victory," This Is A Campaign Against Trump|work=Real Clear Politics}}</ref> On November 21, 2019, Bloomberg filed a statement of candidacy with the [[Federal Election Commission]] to declare himself as [[2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries|a Democratic candidate for president]],<ref name=FECSoC>{{Cite web|url=https://docquery.fec.gov/pdf/442/201911219166072442/201911219166072442.pdf|first=Michael R.|last=Bloomberg|title=FEC Form 2 Statement of Candidacy|website=[[Federal Election Commission]]|language=en|access-date=November 23, 2019}}</ref> though he said this was not a formal announcement, but a step towards making one if he decides to run.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/nyc-mayor-michael-bloomberg-files-fec-run-president/story?id=67121273|title=Former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg files with FEC to run for president|first=Kendall |last=Karson|website=[[ABC News]]|language=en|access-date=November 23, 2019|date=November 21, 2019}}</ref> == Campaign == Bloomberg officially declared his candidacy on November 24, 2019, during a campaign event in [[Virginia]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/25/us/politics/michael-bloomberg-2020-virginia.html|title=At First 2020 Campaign Stop, Bloomberg Boasts What His Money Can Do|first=Alexander|last=Burns|date=November 25, 2019|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/first-stop-on-bloombergs-presidential-campaign-virginia-where-he-spent-millions-to-help-democrats/2019/11/25/9eb65384-0fb9-11ea-9cd7-a1becbc82f5e_story.html|title=First stop on Bloomberg's presidential campaign: Virginia, where he spent millions to help Democrats|first1=Jim|last1=Morrison|first2=Gregory S.|last2=Schneider|work=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> as well as in a [[campaign advertising|campaign spot]] touting himself as a "doer and a problem solver" broadcast on [[YouTube]]<ref name="NYTNov24"/> The campaign subsequently kicked off a television advertising campaign in about 100 [[media market|markets]] within the [[Super Tuesday]] states, which are to contribute about 40 percent of total pledged [[delegate (American politics)|delegates]] at the [[Democratic National Convention]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1911/25/ath.02.html|title=CNN.com - Transcripts|website=transcripts.cnn.com}}</ref> On that date, his personal website, mikebloomberg.com, was repurposed for the presidential campaign.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20191124191220/http://www.mikebloomberg.com/ [[Wayback Machine]] capture on November 24, 2019 2:12PM ET (the [https://web.archive.org/web/20191124150647/https://www.mikebloomberg.com/ capture] from earlier that day still showed his personal site)</ref> In December 2019, Bloomberg hired [[Texas Democratic Party]] Vice Chair Carla Brailey as a senior campaign adviser and in January 2020, he hired [[California Democratic Party]] Vice Chair Alexandra Rooker for a senior advisory role. Both are [[superdelegate]]s to the [[Democratic National Convention]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://theintercept.com/2020/02/28/bloomberg-super-tuesday-texas-california-democratic-party-hires/ |title=Bloomberg has hired the Vice Chairs of the Texas and California Democratic Primaries |author=Lacy, Akela |work=The Intercept |date=February 28, 2020 |access-date=February 28, 2020}}</ref> Bloomberg announced that he would finance his campaign personally and would not accept donations.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/nov/23/michael-bloomberg-refuse-donations-presidential-bid|title=Michael Bloomberg vows to refuse donations as presidential bid looms|date=November 23, 2019|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=February 2, 2020}}</ref> In addition to spending on advertising, Bloomberg's campaign set aside between $15&nbsp;million to $20&nbsp;million to register a half million voters in five battleground states that had swung to Trump in 2016.<ref name="spending">{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-11-25/bloomberg-takes-untested-path-to-2020-skipping-key-contests|title=Bloomberg Takes Untested Path to 2020, Skipping Key Contests|first=Mark|last=Niquette|website=[[Bloomberg News]]|language=en|access-date=November 24, 2019|date=November 26, 2019}}</ref> ===''Bloomberg News''=== According to editor-in-chief [[John Micklethwait]] of ''[[Bloomberg News]],'' because of Bloomberg's ownership of the ''News'' (which refrains from investigating its owner) as well as his candidacy in [[2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries|the Democratic Party primaries]], it will likewise refrain from investigating rival candidates throughout the primaries.<ref>{{Cite Tweet|title=Bloomberg Editor-in-Chief John Micklethwait just sent this note to staffers: "There is no point in trying to claim that covering this presidential campaign will be easy for a newsroom that has built up its reputation for independence in part by not writing about ourselves..."|user=oliverdarcy |number=1198638671374761985|date=November 25, 2019|access-date=December 4, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/bloomberg-the-news-company-begins-to-ponder-how-to-cover-bloomberg-the-would-be-candidate/2019/11/11/94a5c724-0282-11ea-8501-2a7123a38c58_story.html|title=Bloomberg, the news company, begins to ponder how to cover Bloomberg, the would-be candidate|first=Paul|last=Farhi|website=Washington Post}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/24/business/bloomberg-media-presidential-campaign.html|title=Bloomberg News Sets Out How It Will Cover Its Owner|first=Marc|last=Tracy|date=November 24, 2019|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/mike-bloomberg-just-stabbed-the-journalistic-heart-of-his-news-organization/2019/11/25/d4777d24-0f8a-11ea-b0fc-62cc38411ebb_story.html|title=Mike Bloomberg just stabbed the journalistic heart of his news organization|first=Margaret|last=Sullivan|website=Washington Post}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2019/11/25/782732936/bloomberg-news-says-it-wont-cover-owners-presidential-campaign-or-his-rivals|title=Bloomberg News Says It Won't Cover Owner's Presidential Campaign Or His Rivals|website=NPR.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/bloomberg-no-news-11574727270|title=Bloomberg No News|website=[[The Wall Street Journal]]}}</ref> If "credible journalistic institutions" publish investigative reporting about any of the candidates, the ''News'' will "either publish those articles in full or summarize them," Micklethwait said.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2019-11-24/bloomberg-news-coverage-presidential-race|title=Column: How Michael Bloomberg's presidential candidacy harms journalism|date=November 25, 2019|website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> The ''Bloomberg Industry Group'' union, which does not represent ''News'' journalists, protested the ban;<ref>{{Cite Tweet|title=Our statement regarding #Bloomberg’s editorial decision not to investigate Democratic Presidential candidates @business @BBGIndustry @BLaw @environment @BGOV @tax|user=GuildatBIG|number=1199129845181091840|date=November 25, 2019|access-date=December 4, 2019}}</ref> former Washington [[news bureau|bureau]] chief Megan Murphy said it was "staggering" for the news outlet to prevent "an army of unbelievably talented reporters and editors from covering massive, crucial aspects of one of the defining elections of our time";<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/02/business/media/trump-bans-bloomberg-journalists.html|title=Trump Bars Bloomberg News Journalists From Campaign Events|first=Michael M.|last=Grynbaum|date=December 2, 2019|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> and the Trump administration decredentialed ''News'' reporters from attending further [[2020 Trump campaign]] events.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.poynter.org/newsletters/2019/bloomberg-news-banned-from-trump-campaign-nytimes-to-film-endorsement-process-must-reads-addiction-and-homelessness/|title=Bloomberg News banned from Trump campaign» NYTimes to film endorsement process» Must-reads: addiction and homelessness|date=December 3, 2019|access-date=December 4, 2019|website=Poynter}}</ref> ''[[The Atlantic]]'' notes that over the years, there have been numerous reports about the sexist work environment at [[Bloomberg News]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2018/09/mike-bloomberg-comments-women-metoo/570448/|title='I'd Do Her': Mike Bloomberg and the Underbelly of #MeToo|first=Megan|last=Garber|work=[[The Atlantic]]|date=September 19, 2018|access-date=December 25, 2019}}</ref> Despite its promise not to investigate Bloomberg's presidential rivals, the news agency published a blistering report <ref name=amazon>{{cite web |website=Bloomberg Technology|title=Sanders, Warren Campaigns Spend the Most On Amazon While Trashing It|first=Spencer|last=Soper|date=December 23, 2019 |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-12-23/sanders-warren-campaigns-spend-most-on-amazon-while-trashing-it}}</ref> on the [[Bernie Sanders 2020 presidential campaign|Bernie Sanders]] and [[Elizabeth Warren 2020 presidential campaign|Elizabeth Warren]] campaigns and spending on [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]] office supplies ($233,348.51 and $151,240.90 respectively, in nine months). Sanders campaign speechwriter [[David Sirota]] joined journalists in slamming the report.<ref>{{cite web|website=Fox News|title=Bloomberg News slammed for 'hit piece' on Sanders, Warren despite vow not to investigate 2020 Democrats|first=Joseph A.|last=Wulfsohn|date=December 24, 2019 |url=https://www.foxnews.com/media/bloomberg-news-bernie-sanders-elizabeth-warren-hit-piece}}</ref> The article notes that Michael Bloomberg has not yet released his first campaign spending report.<ref name=amazon/> ===Spending and advertising=== [[File:Michael Bloomberg (49474987843).jpg|right|thumb|Bloomberg speaking at a campaign event in Phoenix, Arizona in February 2020.]] Bloomberg decided on an unconventional primary strategy: not to compete in the four states that have primaries or caucuses in February, but to focus his efforts on the multi-state primary elections in March on what is known as [[Super Tuesday]].<ref name="Superbowl">{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2020-02-02/bloomberg-trump-super-bowl-ads |title=Trump and Bloomberg run dueling Super Bowl ads and trade insults |author=Finnegan, Michael |work=Los Angeles Times |date=February 1, 2020 |access-date=February 2, 2020}}</ref> Following the [[2020 Iowa Democratic caucuses|Iowa caucuses]], after a delay in reporting the results produced a chaotic and uncertain outcome, he decided to double his television advertising in all the markets where he was already spending and to increase his campaign staff to 2,000 people.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/04/us/politics/michael-bloomberg-campaign-ads.html?emc=edit_na_20200204&ref=cta&nl=breaking-news&campaign_id=60&instance_id=0&segment_id=20966&user_id=e9848bda5d7546386411f6e2fbdaf95e&regi_id=16153474|title=Bloomberg Plans to Double Ad Spending After Iowa Caucus Problem|last1=Medina|first1=Jennifer|last2=Burns|first2=Alexander|date=February 4, 2019|work=The New York Times|access-date=4 February 2020}}</ref> In the fourth quarter of 2019, Bloomberg spent $188&nbsp;million on his presidential campaign, including $132&nbsp;million on television ads, $8.2&nbsp;million on digital ads, $3.3&nbsp;million on polling, $1.5&nbsp;million on rent, and $757,000 on airfare, including $646,000 for a [[private jet]]. By the end of January 2020, Bloomberg spent $300&nbsp;million on his campaign and by February 2020 had exceeded $500&nbsp;million.<ref name=fourhundredmilliondollars>{{cite web |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-01-31/bloomberg-spends-record-amount-on-campaign-in-first-five-weeks |title=Bloomberg Spends Record Amount on Campaign in Fourth Quarter |author1=Allsion, Bill |author2=Niquette, Mark |work=Bloomberg |date=January 31, 2020|access-date=February 2, 2020}}</ref><ref name="foxbusiness">{{cite web |last1=Henney |first1=Megan |title=Boosted by Bloomberg, 2020 ad spending topples $1B |url=https://www.foxbusiness.com/money/boosted-by-bloomberg-2020-ad-spending-topples-record-breaking-1b |website=Fox Business |access-date=15 March 2020 |date=28 February 2020}}</ref> This caused the total spending in the presidential primary on behalf of all candidates to exceed $1&nbsp;billion by February, an unprecedented figure for such an early point in a US presidential election.<ref name="foxbusiness"/> Bloomberg spent approximately $17,241,379.30 for each of the 58 delegates he won. Given this cost, experts have established that purchasing the nomination would have cost Bloomberg approximately $35 billion, or over 63% of his net worth. ====Television ads==== The campaign launched campaign ads in markets in every state nationally on December 4, 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/fe4ef751a4aeddb6ca5555e231fae7ce|title=Bloomberg spending tens of millions more on new ad campaign|date=December 4, 2019|website=AP NEWS}}</ref> By December 31, 2019 - five weeks after declaring his candidacy - he had spent or committed $200&nbsp;million on advertising, producing "an onslaught of campaign commercials with no precedent in Democratic politics".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/31/us/politics/michael-bloomberg-spending.html|title=Bloomberg Fueled His Campaign With $200 Million From His Own Fortune|last1=Burns|first1=Alexander|last2=Goldmacher|first2=Shane|date=January 31, 2020|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 2, 2020}}</ref> Bloomberg spent $10&nbsp;million on a 60-second ad slot during [[Super Bowl LIV]] that aired on February 2, 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://adage.com/article/special-report-super-bowl/fox-isolates-trump-and-bloomberg-super-bowl-ads-sources/2228601|title=Fox isolates Trump and Bloomberg Super Bowl ads: sources|date=January 19, 2020|author=Poggi, Jeanine|work=Ad Age|language=en|access-date=January 20, 2020}}</ref> ====Digital and social media campaigns==== Bloomberg's digital campaign set aside $100&nbsp;million for anti-Trump social media ads in [[swing state]]s.<ref name="spending"/> By January 2020, Bloomberg spent an estimated $15&nbsp;million on [[pay-per-click]] [[Google ads]] promoting his campaign on search results for terms including "impeachment", "climate change", and "gun safety".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/1/3/21048643/mike-bloomberg-ad-spending-google-seo-political-candidate |title=Mike Bloomberg has spent nearly $15 million to be in your Google search results |author=Stephen, Bijan |work=The Verge |date=January 3, 2020 |access-date=February 2, 2020}}</ref> In January 2020, Bloomberg spent $8.53&nbsp;million in [[targeted advertising|targeted]] [[Facebook]] ads.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/13/mike-bloomberg-spent-826000-on-facebook-ads-in-a-single-day.html |title=Mike Bloomberg spent $826,000 on Facebook ads on Saturday, the biggest single-day total of any 2020 candidate |author=Dzhanova, Yelena |work=CNBC |date=January 13, 2020 |access-date=February 2, 2020}}</ref> In addition to digital ads, Bloomberg's campaign recruited social media [[Internet celebrity|influencers]] to advertise online. The campaign used Tribe, a content marketplace for brands to solicit content from social media personalities, to offer a $150 payment to influencers who post a video or a still image with overlay text in support of Bloomberg.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/mike-bloomberg-is-paying-influencers-to-make-him-seem-cool-9 |title=Mike Bloomberg Is Paying 'Influencers' to Make Him Seem Cool |author=Bixby, Scott |work=Daily Beast |date=February 7, 2020 |access-date=February 7, 2020}}</ref> Bloomberg's campaign worked with Meme 2020, a social media company led by [[fuckjerry|Jerry Media]] CEO [[Mick Purzycki]], to pay popular [[Instagram]] accounts to post "self-aware ironic" [[memes]] about Bloomberg.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Lorenz|first=Taylor|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/13/style/michael-bloomberg-memes-jerry-media.html|title=Michael Bloomberg's Campaign Suddenly Drops Memes Everywhere|date=2020-02-13|work=The New York Times|access-date=2020-02-13|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In February 2020, the campaign hired 500 "deputy digital organizers", who are paid $2,500 per month to promote Bloomberg on their personal social media accounts and in text messages to their contact lists.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.newsweek.com/michael-bloomberg-2020-election-pays-social-media-users-advertising-text-social-media-1488213 |title=Bloomberg to pay hundreds of people $2,500 a month to praise him on their personal social media feeds: report |author=Murdock, Jason |work=Newsweek |date=February 20, 2020 |access-date=February 20, 2020}}</ref> ====Billboards==== In February 2020, Bloomberg's campaign purchased [[billboard]] space in [[Las Vegas, Nevada]] and [[Phoenix, Arizona]] ahead of President Trump's campaign rallies in the two cities.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mike-bloomberg-trolls-trump-with-billboards-as-he-campaigns-on-west-coast/ |title=Mike Bloomberg trolls Trump with billboards as Trump campaigns in West |author=Perry, Tim |work=CBS News |date=February 21, 2020 |access-date=February 21, 2020}}</ref> The billboards, placed in high-visibility locations along Trump's potential motorcade route and outside the [[Trump International Hotel Las Vegas]], displayed phrases including "Donald Trump cheats at golf", "Donald Trump eats burnt steak", "Donald Trump lost the popular vote", and "Donald Trump went broke running a casino."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/484009-bloomberg-to-troll-trump-with-billboards-during-phoenix-and-las-vegas |title=Bloomberg to troll Trump with billboards during Phoenix and Las Vegas visits: report |author=Johnson, Marty |work=The Hill |date=February 21, 2020 |access-date=February 21, 2020}}</ref> ===Voting=== Bloomberg led the midnight vote in the tiny townships of [[Dixville Notch, New Hampshire]]. Although not on the ballot in the [[2020 New Hampshire Democratic primary]], Bloomberg received three write-in votes in [[Dixville Notch, New Hampshire|Dixville Notch]]: two in the Democratic primary and one in the Republican primary.<ref name="CdSmv">{{cite news |last1=de Silva |first1=Chantal |title=Klobuchar Leads New Hampshire Midnight Vote; Bloomberg wins support despite not being on ballot |url=https://www.newsweek.com/klobuchar-surges-ahead-new-hampshire-primary-mike-bloomberg-sees-support-1486655 |access-date=11 February 2020 |work=Newsweek |date=11 February 2020}}</ref><ref name="BBGfB">{{cite news |last1=Baker |first1=Billy |title=Dixville Notch Goes for Bloomberg |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/02/11/metro/dixville-notch-goes-bloomberg-why-its-complicated/ |access-date=11 February 2020 |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=11 February 2011}}</ref> ==="Super Tuesday" results and suspension of campaign=== In the March 3, 2020 [[Results of the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries#Super Tuesday|"Super Tuesday"]] primaries, Bloomberg finished in third or fourth place in most of the 14 states involved, picking up a total of 61 delegates out of the more than 1,000 that were available.<ref>"[https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2020/president/democratic_delegate_count.html Election 2020 — Democratic Delegate Count]", [[RealClearPolitics]], March 5, 2020</ref> On March 4, 2020, Bloomberg suspended his campaign, stating, "I’m a believer in using data to inform decisions. After yesterday’s results, the delegate math has become virtually impossible – and a viable path to the nomination no longer exists." Bloomberg then endorsed Joe Biden.<ref>Steinhauser, Paul, and Kelly Phares, "[https://www.foxnews.com/politics/mike-bloomberg-suspends-presidential-campaign-after-super-tuesday-show Mike Bloomberg suspends presidential campaign after Super Tuesday flop]", ''[[Fox News]]'', March 4, 2020</ref> Following the suspension of his campaign, Bloomberg donated money to nonprofits which register people of color to vote. This includes a $2&nbsp;million donation to Collective Future, a group that registers black voters, and a $500,000 donation to [[Voto Latino]], which registers young Latinos as voters.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gamboa |first1=Suzanne |last2=Allen |first2=Jonathan |title=Bloomberg donates $500,000 to register Latino voters |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/bloomberg-donates-500-000-register-latino-voters-n1156201 |website=NBC News |access-date=March 13, 2020 |language=en |date=March 12, 2020}}</ref> ==Criticism and controversies== ===Prison phone bank=== ''[[The Intercept]]'' reported on December 24, 2019,<ref name=intercept>{{cite web|website=[[The Intercept]]|title=Mike Bloomberg Exploited Prison Labor to Make 2020 Presidential Campaign Phone Calls|first=John|last=Washington|date=December 24, 2019|url=https://theintercept.com/2019/12/24/mike-bloomberg-2020-prison-labor/}}</ref> that the Bloomberg campaign had unwittingly used prison labor to support the campaign. Call center ProCom was contracted to make calls through a third-party vendor; two of the company's call centers are located in state prisons in Oklahoma. Female inmates at the Dr. Eddie Warrior Correctional Center called voters in California, ending the calls by revealing that the calls were paid for by the Bloomberg campaign but without mentioning they originated in a prison. The Bloomberg campaign acknowledged the calls but said they were unaware the calls originated in a prison and they have since severed ties with the company.<ref>{{cite web|website=Fox News |title=Bloomberg unwittingly 'exploited' prisoners to make phone calls on behalf of 2020 campaign: report|first=Joseph A. |last=Wulfsohn |date=December 24, 2019 |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/michael-bloomberg-exploited-prisoners}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|website=Common Dreams|title=Bloomberg Says Explosive Report on His Campaign's Use of Prison Labor Is 'Fundamentally Accurate'|first=Jake|last=Johnson|date=December 25, 2019 |url=https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/12/25/bloomberg-says-explosive-report-his-campaigns-use-prison-labor-fundamentally?}}</ref> ProCom said the company pays the Oklahoma minimum wage of $7.25 an hour to the [[Oklahoma Department of Corrections]], which then pays the people working in the call centers. Documents from the Department of Corrections indicate they pay a maximum monthly wage for the incarcerated of either $20.00 or $27.09 per month.<ref name=intercept/> === Plagiarized campaign materials === In February 2020, an analysis by ''[[The Intercept]]'' found that the Bloomberg campaign had [[plagiarism|plagiarized]] portions of its published policy proposals from news outlets, research publications, non-profit organizations, and policy groups without attribution.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.salon.com/2020/02/07/bloomberg-campaign-plagiarized-portions-of-its-policy-plans-report_partner/ |title=Bloomberg campaign plagiarized portions of its policy plans: report |author=Gettys, Travis |work=Salon |date=February 7, 2020 |access-date=February 7, 2020}}</ref><ref name="Plagiarism">{{cite web |url=https://theintercept.com/2020/02/06/mike-bloomberg-campaign-plagiarization/ |title=Bloomberg plagiarized parts of at least eight of his plans |author=Lacy, Akela |work=The Intercept |date=February 6, 2020 |access-date=February 7, 2020}}</ref> The report found that sections of the campaign's fact sheets for its plans on maternal care, LGBTQ equality, mental health, infrastructure, economy, tax policy, and mental health contained exact passages - ranging from individual sentences to full paragraphs - pulled from sources including [[CNN]], [[CBS]], [[Time (magazine)|Time]], the [[John Jay College of Criminal Justice]], the [[American Medical Association]], [[Everytown for Gun Safety]], and Building America's Future Educational Fund, the latter two of which Bloomberg co-founded or financed.<ref name="Plagiarism"/> In response to the report, Bloomberg's campaign released a statement asserting that the lack of attribution resulted from its use of the [[email marketing|email service]], [[MailChimp]], that it used to distribute the campaign material, explaining that MailChimp does not support [[footnote|footnote citations]] formatting.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Perper |first1=Rosie |title=Bloomberg campaign appears to have plagiarized parts of 8 campaign policies |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/bloomberg-campaign-responds-to-allegations-of-plagiarism-on-website-2020-2 |access-date=19 February 2020 |agency=Business Insider |publisher=Insider Inc. |date=7 February 2020}}</ref> The campaign added, "When we announce policy platforms, we put together detailed fact sheets with context and supporting background, so that reporters understand the problem we’re trying to solve with our policy...We have since added citations and links to these documents."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/07/politics/bloomberg-2020-policy-plan-plagiarism/index.html|title=Bloomberg campaign amends policy plans after report of plagiarism|last=Stracqualursi|first=Veronica|date=February 7, 2020|work=CNN|access-date=7 February 2020}}</ref> ===Former mayorality of New York City=== ===="Stop and frisk" approval==== On February 5, 2015, Bloomberg made comments at the [[Aspen Institute]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/michael-bloomberg-stop-and-frisk-comments-2015-record-on-crime/|title=Bloomberg defends record on crime after uproar over 2015 stop-and-frisk comments|website=www.cbsnews.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2020/02/11/804795405/throw-them-against-the-wall-and-frisk-them-bloomberg-s-2015-race-talk-stirs-deba|title='Throw Them Against The Wall And Frisk Them': Bloomberg's 2015 Race Talk Stirs Debate|website=NPR.org}}</ref> and, while addressing issues of [[minority rights]], [[law enforcement in the United States|policing policy]], and [[gun control]], Bloomberg had said that police should confiscate guns of African Americans between ages 15 and 25. "These kids think they’re going to get killed anyway because all their friends are getting killed. So they just don’t have any long-term focus or anything. It’s a joke to have a gun. It’s a joke to pull a trigger." He has stated that police should "throw [African Americans] up against the wall and frisk them."<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.aspentimes.com/news/michael-bloomberg-blocks-footage-of-aspen-institute-appearance/|title=Michael Bloomberg blocks footage of Aspen Institute appearance|first=Karl|last=Herchenroeder|website=www.aspentimes.com}}</ref> Bloomberg's approval of [[stop-and-frisk in New York City|stop-and-frisk policies in New York City]] during his mayoralty has received widespread condemnation from the public and police alike. He eventually disavowed the controversial practice after announcing his campaign.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/michael-bloomberg-apologizes-for-stop-and-frisk-policing-11574017238|title=Michael Bloomberg Apologizes for 'Stop-and-Frisk' Policing|first=Nick|last=Timiraos|date=November 18, 2019|via=www.wsj.com}}</ref> Bloomberg stayed at one point that "One of the unintended consequences is people say, 'Oh my God, you are arresting kids for marijuana. They’re all minorities.' Yes, that’s true. Why? Because we put all the cops in the minority neighborhoods. Yes, that’s true. Why do you do it? Because that’s where all the crime is."<ref name="auto2"/> The comments were criticized by many as racist, including President Trump, who tweeted "WOW, BLOOMBERG IS A TOTAL RACIST!"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/11/us/politics/trump-bloomberg.html|title=Trump Takes On Bloomberg and Once Again Hijacks a News Cycle|first1=Michael D.|last1=Shear|first2=Maggie|last2=Haberman|date=February 11, 2020|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/trump-calls-bloomberg-total-racist-over-policy-president-has-supported-n1135116|title=Trump calls Bloomberg a 'total racist' over stop and frisk, which the president has supported|website=NBC News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-trump-bloomberg-idUSKBN2052DC|title=Bloomberg buffeted by recording of him discussing crime, minorities|date=February 12, 2020|via=www.reuters.com|newspaper=Reuters}}</ref> Bloomberg subsequently claimed that "I inherited the police practice of stop-and-frisk, and as part of our effort to stop gun violence it was overused. By the time I left office, I cut it back by 95%, but I should’ve done it faster and sooner. I regret that and I have apologized." This claim has been disputed by many in the media, who point to Bloomberg's past statements and actions as Mayor as evidence that he supported and expanded the practice.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/11/us/politics/bloomberg-stop-and-frisk-fact-check.html|title=Responding to Critics, Bloomberg Omits Role in Expanding Stop-and-Frisk|first=Linda|last=Qiu|date=February 11, 2020|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/bloomberg-reiterates-regret-over-stop-and-frisk-practice-after-new-audio-surfaces-11581445721|title=Bloomberg Reiterates Regret Over Stop-and-Frisk Practice After New Audio Surfaces|first=Tarini|last=Parti|date=February 11, 2020|via=www.wsj.com}}</ref> National co-chair of Sanders's campaign Nina Turner called for Bloomberg to drop out of the race over the issue.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.voanews.com/usa/us-south-bloomberg-aims-move-past-stop-and-frisk-remarks|title=In US South, Bloomberg Aims to Move Past Stop-And-Frisk Remarks|website=Voice of America}}</ref> Sanders said at a February 16 dinner in [[Las Vegas]], "Regardless of how much money a multibillionaire candidate is willing to spend on his election, we will not create the energy and excitement we need to defeat Donald Trump if that candidate pursued, advocated for and enacted racist policies like stop-and-frisk, which caused communities of color in his city to live in fear."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/bloomberg-bernie-bros-unite-energy-democrats-trump-153510095.html|title=Sanders and Bloomberg exchange blows as Democratic race heats up|website=news.yahoo.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/democratic-candidates-sharpen-offensive-on-bloomberg-11581876669|title=Democratic Candidates Sharpen Criticisms of Bloomberg|first=Ken Thomas and Ted|last=Mann|date=February 16, 2020|via=www.wsj.com}}</ref> ====Comments regarding redlining==== In 2008 at the height of the housing/banking crisis, Bloomberg said at a university forum that the crisis "all started when there was a lot of pressure on banks to make loans to everyone," even in poor neighborhoods, so that "banks started making more and more loans where the credit of the person buying the house wasn't as good as you would like."<ref name = Merica/> When a video of these comments was published in February 2020, they were widely interpreted as saying that he had blamed the crisis at least in part on the end of [[redlining]] - the practice of refusing to make bank loans in poor or minority neighborhoods.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/redlining-what-is-history-mike-bloomberg-comments/|title=Redlining's legacy: Maps are gone, but the problem hasn't disappeared|last=Brooks|first=Khristopher J.|date=February 19, 2020|work=CBS News|access-date=21 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/02/20/bloombergs-views-redlining-could-remain-an-issue-black-voters/|title=Bloomberg's views on redlining could remain an issue for black voters|last=Scott|first=Eugene|date=February 20, 2020|work=The Washington Post|access-date=21 February 2020}}</ref> In response, a Bloomberg spokesman said that Bloomberg had always opposed redlining and fought against it as mayor.<ref name = Merica>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/13/politics/michael-bloomberg-redlining-housing-crisis/index.html|title=Michael Bloomberg said in 2008 that end of 'redlining' was to blame for financial crisis|last1=Merica|first1=Dan|last2=Kenny|first2=Caroline|date=February 14, 2020|work=CNN|access-date=21 February 2020}}</ref> === Allegedly profane or sexist comments; nondisclosure agreements === {{see also|2020 Democratic Party presidential debates#Summary 9}} Bloomberg has received criticism during the [[#February 2020 debate|February debate]] for disallowing women who had settled suits against his company to publicly air their grievances. On February 21, Bloomberg said that three women employed by his company, the only ones whose complaints related to him, would be released if desirous from their [[nondisclosure agreements]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/08d13c3631d70a85c92b980d6b03cfdf|title=Bloomberg : 3 women can be released on non-disclosure deals|date=February 21, 2020|website=AP NEWS}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/bloomberg-seeks-debate-redemption-while-090000450.html|title=Michael Bloomberg Seeks Debate Redemption While Bernie Sanders Faces Attack|website=news.yahoo.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-bloomberg-idUSKBN20F2SE|title='Not good enough,' Warren says of Bloomberg's non-disclosure agreement pledge|date=February 22, 2020|via=www.reuters.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/politics/michael-bloomberg-women/|title=Inside Mike Bloomberg's years-long battle against women's allegations of profane, sexist comments|website=Washington Post}}</ref> === Twitter troll accounts === [[Twitter]] had suspended 70 troll accounts that posted content in support of Bloomberg's presidential campaign. A Twitter spokesperson told ''TIME'' that it has "taken enforcement action on a group of accounts for violating our rules against platform manipulation and spam."<ref>{{cite news |title=Twitter Has Reportedly Suspended 70 Pro-Bloomberg Accounts for Violating Its Platform Manipulation Policy |url=https://time.com/5789203/twitter-bloomberg-spam-suspended/ |work=TIME |date=February 22, 2020}}</ref> Twitter said that Bloomberg's campaign violated Twitter's rules against "creating multiple accounts to post duplicative content," "posting identical or substantially similar Tweets or hashtags from multiple accounts you operate" and "coordinating with or compensating others to engage in artificial engagement or amplification, even if the people involved use only one account."<ref>{{cite news |title=Twitter is suspending 70 pro-Bloomberg accounts, citing 'platform manipulation' |url=https://www.latimes.com/business/technology/story/2020-02-21/twitter-suspends-bloomberg-accounts |work=Los Angeles Times |date=February 21, 2020}}</ref> === Edited debate footage === On February 20, 2020, Bloomberg's official Twitter account shared a [[video manipulation|manipulated video]] of the previous night's Democratic debate in Las Vegas. The video featured Bloomberg saying "I’m the only one here that’s ever started a business. Is that fair?" followed by a series of clips from various moments of the debate, which were edited together to appear as if Bloomberg's question was followed by 20 seconds of silence from the other candidates.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/483861-bloomberg-faces-criticism-for-tweet-showing-altered-debate-moment |title=Bloomberg faces criticism for tweet showing altered debate moment |first=Morgan |last=Gstatler |date=February 20, 2020 |access-date=February 26, 2020}}</ref> Bloomberg's campaign responded to criticism by saying that the video was intended to be "tongue-in-cheek".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/bloomberg-video-added-crickets-manipulated-media-twitter-rules/story?id=69125938 |title=Bloomberg video with added crickets would be 'Manipulated Media' under new Twitter rules |author=Gallagher, Fergal |work=ABC News |date=February 21, 2020 |access-date=February 26, 2020}}</ref> == Debates == Bloomberg had declared his candidacy after most of the 2019 [[2020 Democratic Party presidential debates|primary debates]] organized by the [[Democratic National Committee]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.elle.com/culture/career-politics/a26992483/democratic-candidates-primary-debates-2020-election/|title=When Are the 2020 Democratic Primary Debates, and How Can I Watch Them?|last=Feller|first=Madison|date=November 19, 2019|website=[[Elle (magazine)|Elle]]|language=en-US|access-date=November 22, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://democrats.org/news/dnc-announces-framework-for-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary-debates/|title=DNC Announces Framework for the 2020 Democratic Presidential Primary Debates|date=December 20, 2018|website=[[Democratic National Committee]]|language=en|access-date=November 22, 2019}}</ref> After declaring, he failed to meet the requirements to participate in the debates December 2019 and January 2020 debates, as the DNC required participating candidates to demonstrate at least 4-percent support in at least four separate national polls approved by the DNC (or 6 percent in two early state polls), in addition to donations "from at least 200,000 unique donors overall, and a minimum of 800 unique donors in at least 20 states."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/11/15/who-has-qualified-december-democratic-debate/|title=Who has qualified for the December Democratic debate|first=Ashlyn|last=Still|date=November 19, 2019|work=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> Various national polls conducted in December found that Bloomberg's candidacy registered at around four percent support.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-warren-idUSKBN1Y92UL|title=Support for Elizabeth Warren drops to lowest since August in White House race: Reuters/Ipsos poll|date=December 6, 2019|work=[[Reuters]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/473072-steve-bullock-exits-will-conservative-democrats-follow|title=Steve Bullock exits: Will conservative Democrats follow?|first=Daniel|last=Allott|date=December 5, 2019|work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2019/11/10/michael-bloomberg-2020-poll-068484|title=Poll: Bloomberg's potential run is a flop with voters so far|first=David|last=Siders|website=[[Politico]]|access-date=November 28, 2019|date=November 10, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://poll.qu.edu/national/release-detail?ReleaseID=3650|title=QU Poll Release Detail|website=QU Poll}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2019/12/03/michael-bloomberg-early-polling/2594884001/|title=Despite late entry, polls find ex-NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg in fifth place ahead of Kamala Harris|first=William|last=Cummings|website=USA TODAY}}</ref> however he did not meet the donor threshold, as he was not accepting contributions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/democratic-debate-won-t-include-michael-bloomberg-s-still-win-ncna1104416|title=The Democratic debate won't include Michael Bloomberg, but that's still a win for him|website=NBC News|date=December 19, 2019|access-date=December 26, 2019|first=David|last=Mark}}</ref><ref name=csmdec19>{{Cite web|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2019/1219/Michael-Bloomberg-is-everywhere-except-on-debate-stage|title=Michael Bloomberg is everywhere – except on debate stage|date=December 19, 2019|work=[[Christian Science Monitor]]|first=Francine|last=Kiefer|access-date=December 26, 2019}}</ref> By early January 2020, Bloomberg was found by ''[[Real Clear Politics]]'' to have reached about 5.6% support nationally,<ref name=csmdec19/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thehill.com/hilltv/rising/476689-bloomberg-rises-to-third-place-alongside-warren-in-national-poll|title=Bloomberg rises to third place alongside Warren in national poll|first=Tess|last=Bonn|date=January 3, 2020|website=The Hill}}</ref> but he again failed to meet the donors requirement for the [[2020 Democratic Party presidential debates#Seventh debate (January 14, 2020)|January debate]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/20/us/politics/january-democratic-debate.html|title=January Debate Will Be Harder to Qualify For, D.N.C. Announces|first1=Reid J.|last1=Epstein|first2=Maggie|last2=Astor|first3=Matt|last3=Stevens|date=December 20, 2019|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://reason.com/2019/12/30/billionaires-buying-elections-bloomberg-steyer-ad-blitzes-arent-moving-the-needle/|title=Bloomberg, Steyer Showing Money Can't Buy Elections After Failed $200 Million Ad Blitz|date=December 30, 2019|access-date=January 2, 2020|first=Eric|last=Boehm|work=[[Reason (magazine)|Reason]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2019/11/25/bloomberg-2020-debates-073640|title=Why Bloomberg doesn't care about skipping the Democratic debates|first=Zach|last=Montellaro|work=[[Politico]]|date=November 25, 2019|access-date=December 26, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/08/bloomberg-debate-2020-095798|title=Democrats attack Bloomberg for running imperial campaign|website=POLITICO}}</ref> On January 13, Bloomberg stated that "People often ask me, 'Why aren't you in the debates? It's simple: the party requires candidates to have a certain number of donations, but I've never accepted a nickel from anyone. Unlike President Trump, I've always been independent of the special interests. I hope the DNC changes its rules—I'd gladly participate—but I'm not going to change my principles."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bloomberg |first1=Michael |title=Michael Bloomberg: Starting with Iowa and New Hampshire hurts Democrats and helps Trump |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/01/13/opinions/iowa-new-hampshire-democratic-primary-bloomberg/index.html |access-date=January 14, 2020 |agency=CNN |date=January 13, 2020}}</ref> During the January debate, he tweeted an image of his face on a meatball and other odd photos, which were poorly received by social media users.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2020/01/14/meatball-mike-bloomberg-has-a-weird-night-on-twitter-during-democratic-debate/|title='Meatball Mike' Bloomberg has a weird night on Twitter during Democratic debate|first=Ben|last=Feuerherd|work=[[New York Post]]|date=January 14, 2020|access-date=January 15, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/michael-bloomberg-campaign-posts-surreal-tweets-as-counter-programming-to-democratic-debate-2020-01-14/|title=Michael Bloomberg campaign posts surreal tweets as counterprogramming to Democratic debate|work=[[CBS News]]|date=January 14, 2020|first=Jason|last=Silverstein|access-date=January 15, 2020}}</ref> On January 31, 2020, the DNC changed its eligibility rules, eliminating the individual-donor threshold. This allowed Bloomberg to participate in future debates by merely meeting polling requirements.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/31/dnc-shifts-debate-requirements-opening-door-for-bloomberg-110017|title=DNC overhauls debate requirements, opening door for Bloomberg|date=January 31, 2020|work=Politico|access-date=February 2, 2020}}</ref> === February 19, 2020 debate === On February 18, 2020, Bloomberg qualified to participate in the February 19 debate in Nevada.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/michael-bloomberg-qualifies-democratic-debate-showdown-candidates-looms/story?id=69043110 |title=6 candidates to face off in Las Vegas debate, including Bloomberg for the 1st time: DNC |author=Scanlan, Quinn |work=ABC News |date=February 19, 2020 |access-date=February 20, 2020}}</ref> Bloomberg's debut debate performance was poorly received, with some pundits saying that his performance was "among the worst in the history of presidential debates." He was widely criticized for his answers regarding stop-and-frisk, workplace harassment, and allegations of harassment by female employees, many of whom were bound by non-disclosure agreements.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/02/20/opinion/who-won-democratic-debate.html|title=Opinion &#124; Winners and Losers of the Democratic Debate|first=The New York Times|last=Opinion|date=February 20, 2020|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref> [[Elizabeth Warren]], as well as [[Joe Biden]], challenged him to release the women from the non-disclosure agreements, to which he refused.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://theweek.com/articles/896854/democrats-gave-mike-bloomberg-what-deserved|title=The Democrats gave Mike Bloomberg what he deserved|date=2020-02-20|website=theweek.com|language=en|access-date=2020-02-20}}</ref> It is reported that there are at least 64 women named in at least 40 [[Bloomberg L.P.#Controversies|lawsuits alleging sexual harassment or gender discrimination]] at [[Bloomberg LP]].<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gq.com/story/bloomberg-sexism|title=Why Is Bloomberg's Long History of Egregious Sexism Getting a Pass?|last=Bassett|first=Laura|website=GQ|language=en|access-date=2020-02-20}}</ref> After the debate, at a rally in Salt Lake City, Utah, Bloomberg stated that "Trump was the real winner of Las Vegas debate" and claimed that "If we choose a candidate who appeals to a small base like Senator Sanders, it will be a fatal error." Bloomberg's campaign staff manager Kevin Sheekey claimed that the night was actually a success for Bloomberg, stating that "You know you are a winner when you are drawing attacks from all the candidates. Everyone came to destroy Mike tonight, it didn't happen. Everyone wanted him to lose his cool. He didn't do it. He was the grownup in the room."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/elections-2020/bloomberg-trump-was-the-real-winner-of-las-vegas-debate/ar-BB10cRw6|title=Bloomberg: Trump was the 'real winner' of Las Vegas debate|website=www.msn.com|access-date=2020-02-21}}</ref> == Political positions == {{main|Political positions of Michael Bloomberg}} Bloomberg, who has said in an editorial he believes [[climate change]] cannot await favorable political winds, has funded Beyond Carbon, modeled on the effort he had previously co-founded along with the [[Sierra Club]], [[Beyond Coal]], which he credits as contributing to the closing of half of the U.S.'s [[coal-fired power station]]s.<ref name=nytnov8>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/08/us/politics/michael-bloomberg-issues.html|title=Where Michael Bloomberg Stands on the Issues|first=Maggie|last=Astor|date=November 8, 2019|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2019-03-05/our-highest-office-my-deepest-obligation|title=Our Highest Office, My Deepest Obligation|work=[[Bloomberg News]]|date=March 5, 2019|access-date=December 26, 2019}}</ref> He has advocated for greatly expanding U.S. healthcare programs to create essentially a hybrid [[single-payer healthcare#United States|single-payer healthcare]] he has dubbed "'Medicare for all' for people that are uncovered."<ref name=nytnov8/> Bloomberg's "All-In Economy" agenda,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mikebloomberg.com/policies/all-in-economy|title=The All-In Economy &#124; Mike Bloomberg for President|website=www.mikebloomberg.com}}</ref> especially focused on assisting mid-sized cities in the economically lagging American heartland in their becoming economic growth generators,<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/bloomberg-puts-geographic-inequality-on-the-2020-agenda-11578484804|title=Bloomberg Puts Geographic Inequality on the 2020 Agenda|first=Greg|last=Ip|website=WSJ}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ft.com/content/8ae6bcfe-3327-11ea-a329-0bcf87a328f2|title=Subscribe to read &#124; Financial Times|website=www.ft.com}}</ref> would include increased federal funding for community-colleges, technical training programs, and job-creating research and development endeavors that "invest in college partnerships and apprenticeships that connect people with identifiable jobs and career paths";<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/08/michael-bloomberg-releases-preliminary-general-economic-agenda.html|title=Bloomberg says the economy is the way he will take on Trump—and his future VP pick will be responsible for education|first=Abigail|last=Hess|date=January 8, 2020|website=CNBC}}</ref> provide to workers, whether [[gig work]], [[employment contract|contract]] and [[franchising|franchise]] employees, [[union organizing]] and [[collective bargaining]] rights;<ref name="auto"/> increase to the national [[minimum wage]] to $15 an hour;<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.startribune.com/in-minnesota-michael-bloomberg-tries-to-show-he-would-fight-for-rural-interests/566828232/|title=In Minnesota, Michael Bloomberg tries to show how a former New York mayor would fight for rural interests|website=Star Tribune}}</ref><ref name="auto1"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/mike-bloomberg-trump-has-been-great-for-people-like-me-but-ill-be-great-for-you-2020-01-08|title=Mike Bloomberg: Trump has been great for people like me — but I'll be great for you|first=Michael R.|last=Bloomberg|website=MarketWatch}}</ref> increase to the [[Earned Income Tax Credit]]; and, creating "Business Resource Centers" to assist entrepreneurs.<ref name="auto"/> Bloomberg's Greenwood Initiative aims to redress historic and institutional economic injustices that have affected Black Americans. The plan is focused on closing the economic gap between white and Black Americans by driving economic empowerment and helping to create generational wealth.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mikebloomberg.com/2020/policies/economic-justice|title=Economic Justice {{!}} Mike Bloomberg for President|website=www.mikebloomberg.com|language=en|access-date=January 25, 2020}}</ref> Bloomberg said that he is open to spending 1&nbsp;billion dollars to support the Democratic candidate in the presidential election, even if it will be [[Bernie Sanders]] or [[Elizabeth Warren]].<ref name="auto4">{{cite news|last1=Mark|first1=Michelle|title=Michael Bloomberg says he'll spend $1 billion to defeat Trump, even if it means supporting Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/bloomberg-defeat-trump-support-sanders-warren-2020-1|access-date=January 13, 2020|work=[[Business Insider]]|date=January 12, 2020}}</ref> In February, the Sanders campaign declined financial help from Bloomberg should it receive the nomination and Bloomberg's spokesperson said Bloomberg would not assist a candidate who did not desire his assistance.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sanders' campaign rejects Bloomberg's help in general election: 'It's a hard no'|author=Seitz-Wald, Alex|date=February 25, 2020|access-date=March 4, 2020|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/sanders-campaign-rejects-bloomberg-s-help-general-election-it-s-n1143296|publisher=NBC News}}</ref> Bloomberg also said that he will not run ads against his rivals in the Democratic primaries.<ref name="auto4"/> Though on February 17, Bloomberg ran an attack ad against Sanders's supporters accusing them of using online bullying tactics to mute criticism of their candidate. The ad showed screenshots of alleged Sanders supporters using memes, alleged threatening texts, and other tweets.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Fredericks|first=Bob|url=https://nypost.com/2020/02/17/mike-bloomberg-blasts-bernie-bros-in-new-campaign-ad/|title=Mike Bloomberg blasts 'Bernie Bros' in new campaign ad|date=February 17, 2020|work=New York Post}}</ref> === Private spending toward policy goals === {{main|Everytown for Gun Safety|Beyond Coal|Carnegie Corporation of New York}} Part of Bloomberg's long-time political modus operandi is funding of various [[Nonprofit organization|nonprofits]] in support of such issues he supports as [[gun control]] (Bloomberg is the primary funder of [[Everytown for Gun Safety]]),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/dem-contender-bloomberg-apos-gun-144826725.html|title=Dem contender Bloomberg's gun control group helps city sue firearms-maker|website=Yahoo Finance}}</ref> [[climate change|climate-change]] prevention,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://politi.co/2T7XacO|title=Inside the war on coal|first=Michael|last=Grunwald|website=The Agenda}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/bloomberg-commits-500m-to-close-all-us-coal-plants-by-2030-halt-natural-gas|title=Bloomberg Commits $500M to Close All US Coal Plants by 2030, Halt New Natural Gas Plants|first=Jeff St|last=John|date=June 7, 2019|website=Greentech Media}}</ref> and city innovation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2020/01/bloombergs-bankrolling-wasnt-just-about-campaigns/604390/|title=The Real Power of Bloomberg's Money|first=Edward-Isaac|last=Dovere|date=January 7, 2020|website=The Atlantic}}</ref> Campaigning in Philadelphia in January 2020, referencing $80&nbsp;million he spent supporting Congressional candidates in the [[2018 midterm elections]],<ref> {{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/16/bloomberg-capitol-hill-099882|title=Bloomberg makes his case to Dems on Capitol Hill|last1=Ferris|first1=Sarah|last2=Barrón-López|first2=Laura|website=Politico|date=January 16, 2020|access-date=January 23, 2020}}</ref> Bloomberg said, "I supported 24 candidates who were good on guns and good on environment, and 21 of them won, and that flipped the House. So if it wasn’t for that, you wouldn’t have [Speaker] Pelosi and you wouldn’t have impeachment."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-bloomberg-effect-huge-spending-transforms-2020-campaign-dynamics-11579191368|title=The Bloomberg Effect: Huge Spending Transforms 2020 Campaign Dynamics|last1=Parti|first1=Tarini|last2=Alpert|first2=Lukas I.|website=The Wall Street Journal|date=January 16, 2020|access-date=January 23, 2020}}</ref> ==Endorsements== {{main|List of Michael Bloomberg 2020 presidential campaign endorsements}} Bloomberg has faced criticism by a few media outlets for "buying endorsements".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cheadle |first1=Harry |title=Here's How Much You Can Make if You Sell Out for Bloomberg |url=https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/pkeze7/heres-how-much-you-can-make-if-you-sell-out-for-bloomberg |access-date=20 February 2020 |work=Vice |date=14 February 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Feldman |first1=Brian |title=Facebook's Election Rules Are No Match for Bloomberg's Billions |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/02/facebooks-election-rules-are-no-match-for-bloombergs-money.html |access-date=20 February 2020 |work=New York Magazine |agency=Intelligencer |date=19 February 2020 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Fernholz |first1=Tim |title=Bloomberg is running the billionaire vote-buying campaign we expected from Trump |url=https://qz.com/1802367/detailing-mike-bloombergs-unprecedented-2020-campaign-spending/ |access-date=20 February 2020 |work=Quartz |date=14 February 2020 |language=en}}</ref> According to ''[[HuffPost]]'', the presidential candidate donated millions of dollars to the Congressional candidates before later receiving their endorsements.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Redden |first1=Molly |title=Bloomberg Spent Millions To Put Them In Congress. Now, They're Endorsing Him. |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mike-bloomberg-endorsements-super-pac-donations_n_5e42d420c5b6b70887083093 |access-date=20 February 2020 |work=HuffPost |date=11 February 2020 |language=en-US}}</ref> Charities controlled by Michael Bloomberg, such as [[Bloomberg Philanthropies]], have reportedly given grants and training to city mayors throughout the country soon forming a network of mayors willing to support his campaign.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Burns |first1=Alexander |last2=Kulish |first2=Nicholas |last3=Goldmacher |first3=Shane |title='Mayors for Mike': How Bloomberg's Money Built a 2020 Political Network |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/14/us/politics/bloomberg-mayors-2020.html |access-date=20 February 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=14 December 2019 |location=Stockton, California |language=en-US}}</ref> One incident reported by the ''[[Detroit Free Press]]'' had Bloomberg receiving an endorsement from [[Wayne County, Michigan|Wayne County Executive]] [[Warren Evans]] after his campaign hired Evans's wife.<ref name="DFP">{{cite news |last1=Spangler |first1=Todd |title=Report: Michael Bloomberg hired Warren Evans' wife before endorsement |url=https://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/02/19/michael-bloomberg-hired-warren-evans-wife-endorsement/4809287002/ |access-date=20 February 2020 |work=Detroit Free Press |date=19 February 2019 |language=en-US}}</ref> ==Post campaign== Bloomberg suspended his campaign on March 4, 2020, and he endorsed the [[Joe Biden 2020 presidential campaign]].<ref>[https://time.com/5795561/bloomberg-suspends-campaign/ Michael Bloomberg Drops Out of 2020 Race — And Backs Joe Biden] BY ALANA ABRAMSON, Time, 4 March 2020, retrieved 24 Mar 2020</ref> On March 20 he announced that he would transfer $18&nbsp;million to the [[Democratic National Committee |Democratic National Committee (DNC)]]. He made a $2&nbsp;million donation to the black voter registration group [[Collective Future]] and $500,000 for [[Voto Latino]] to register new voters. He has pledged to spend $15&nbsp;Million to $20&nbsp;million to register voters in five purple states. In addition, he announced a $2&nbsp;million donation to the progressive group [[Swing Left]] to help Democrats in competitive races. He donated $5&nbsp;million to [[Stacey Abrams]]'s [[Fair Fight Action|Fair Fight 2020]] to encourage voter-registration and oppose voter-suppression measures.<ref>[https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-20/bloomberg-campaign-transfers-18-million-to-dnc-to-beat-trump Michael Bloomberg Campaign Transfers $18 Million to DNC to Beat Trump] By Mark Niquette, Bloomberg.com, 20 Mar 2020</ref> Despite having promised his campaign staff they would be guaranteed jobs through November, on March 20 Bloomberg announced he was laying off his staff, although some may be hired by the DNC or other campaigns. The announcement came during the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States]].<ref>[https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mike-bloomberg-2020-dnc_n_5e74fb3fc5b6f5b7c543a542 Mike Bloomberg Lays Off Entire Campaign Staff And Scales Back Election Spending Plans] By Kevin Robillard, Paul Blumenthal, and Molly Redden, HuffPost, 20 Mar 2020</ref> Former staff filed a class-action suit in the [[United States District Court for the Southern District of New York]] on March 23. The Bloomberg campaign noted that some former staffers had already been hired by the DNC and all former staffers were guaranteed health care coverage through April.<ref>[https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mike-bloomberg-campaign-lawsuit_n_5e791a1bc5b62f90bc4f926b Former Staffers Sue Bloomberg Campaign After Layoffs] By Ja’han Jones, HuffPost, 23 Mar 2020</ref> On April 27, 2020, Bloomberg announced that he would pay health care costs for campaign workers through November 2020.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bowden |first1=John |title=Bloomberg to pay health care costs for campaign workers through November |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/494894-bloomberg-to-pay-healthcare-costs-for-campaign-workers-through-november |access-date=27 April 2020 |newspaper=The Hill |date=27 April 2020}}</ref> == References == {{reflist}} == External links == * {{ballotpedia|Michael_Bloomberg_presidential_campaign,_2020|Michael Bloomberg presidential campaign, 2020}} {{2020 United States presidential election}} [[Category:2020 Democratic Party (United States) presidential campaigns|Bloomberg]] [[Category:Michael Bloomberg]]'