Mike Bloomberg qualifies for Democratic debate in Las Vegas
Image by Getty Images
(JTA) — Mike Bloomberg will finally go toe to toe on a debate stage with his fellow Democratic presidential hopefuls.
The billionaire businessman and former New York mayor has qualified for Wednesday’s debate in Las Vegas days ahead of the Nevada caucuses on Saturday. Many of Bloomberg’s rivals in the race have criticized his self-funded run for the White House.
Bloomberg qualified early on Tuesday after coming in at 19 percent in a new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll — second to Sen. Bernie Sanders. In late January, the Democratic National Committee unveiled new debate rules that drop the requirement that candidates obtain a minimum number of campaign contributors. This paved the way for Bloomberg to take the debate stage, since he is using his private wealth to fund his campaign and is not taking donations.
It will be Bloomberg’s first debate since 2009, according to Politico. Another Democratic debate is scheduled for Feb. 25 in Charleston, South Carolina.
Sanders, the front-runner, has been on the attack against Bloomberg and his entry into the race without participating in the first caucuses and primaries.
“I’ve got news for Mr. Bloomberg, and that is the American people are sick and tired of billionaires buying elections,” Sanders said at a campaign event Sunday in Nevada. Both candidates are Jewish.
Bloomberg has spent over $300 million nationwide on television ads, which is more than the rest of the Democratic candidates combined.
The post Mike Bloomberg qualifies for Democratic debate in Las Vegas appeared first on Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
This is a moment of great uncertainty. Here’s what you can do about it.
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, we’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s independent Jewish news. All donations are still being matched by the Forward Board - up to $100,000 until April 24.
This is a moment of great uncertainty for the news media, for the Jewish people, and for our sacred democracy. It is a time of confusion and declining trust in public institutions. An era in which we need humans to report facts, conduct investigations that hold power to account, tell stories that matter and share honest discourse on all that divides us.
With no paywall or subscriptions, the Forward is entirely supported by readers like you. Every dollar you give is invested in the future of the Forward — and telling the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
The Forward doesn’t rely on funding from institutions like governments or your local Jewish federation. There are thousands of readers like you who give us $18 or $36 or $100 each month or year.
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
