Michael Bloomberg returns fire: Bernie Sanders will ‘bankrupt’ US
Billionaire presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg has stepped up his attack on Democrat frontrunner Bernie Sanders.
Billionaire presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg has stepped up his attack on Democrat frontrunner Bernie Sanders, warning it would be a “fatal error” for Democrats to nominate a socialist who would “bankrupt” the country.
His comments came as tensions in the Democrat presidential race soared on the eve of Sunday’s (AEDT) Nevada primary contest and in the wake of a brawling debate between the six top contenders that some fear has hurt the party’s chances against Donald Trump.
Polls suggest the 78-year-old Senator Sanders is heading for a comfortable win in the Nevada primary after winning in New Hampshire last week and placing a close second in Iowa. He also holds a commanding lead in national polls, leading many moderate Democrats to fear the democratic socialist is fast hurtling towards the party’s nomination.
Senator Sanders escaped heavy scrutiny in this week’s Democrat debate as his fellow contenders instead directed their attacks on the 78-year-old Mr Bloomberg, who was having his first debate after spending more than $US400m ($606m) in advertising to become a leading contender.
Mr Bloomberg, who is not entering the primary contests until Super Tuesday on March 3, warned on Friday (AEDT) that Senator Sanders would never defeat Mr Trump with his “pie-in-the-sky” promises.
“Look, the real winner in the debate last night was Donald Trump,” Mr Bloomberg said.
“Because I worry that we may very well be on the way to nominating somebody who cannot win in November. And if we choose a candidate who appeals to a small base like Senator Sanders, it will be a fatal error.”
He said Democrats needed to be able to appeal to moderates, independents and Republicans to win the votes required to defeat the President in November.
“And that won’t happen with pie-in-the-sky promises and proposals that will bankrupt the country. Voters don’t want empty talk. They want leadership.
“They don’t want hand-waving and finger-pointing. They want commonsense ideas that can become real policy.”
Mr Trump retweeted Mr Bloomberg’s claim that the real winner was the President, saying: “Mini-Mike Bloomberg. I agree!”
The President said he hoped Mr Bloomberg won the nomination after his “stumbling, bumbling and grossly incompetent” debate performance.
“Mini, there’s even less chance, especially after watching your debate performance last night of you winning the Democratic nomination … but I hope you do!”
Mr Bloomberg’s performance in the debate was widely criticised after he failed to offer robust rebuttals to attacks on his record as New York mayor, his treatment of women and allegations that he is attempting to buy his way to the presidency.
Polls on the eve of the Nevada primary show Senator Sanders leading comfortably with 30 per cent support followed by Joe Biden on 16 per cent, Elizabeth Warren on 14.5 per cent and Pete Buttigieg on 12.5 per cent. Nationally, Senator Sanders is also a clear leader with 27.8 per cent followed by Mr Biden on 17.8 per cent, Mr Bloomberg on 16.1 per cent Senator Warren on 12.3 per cent, Mr Buttigieg on 10.3 per cent and Amy Klobuchar on 6.4 per cent.
Senator Warren, who had a strong debate and who tussled aggressively with Mr Bloomberg over his record with women, is hoping her performance will reverse the fortunes of her struggling campaign. “I’ve been told to sit down and stay quiet enough in my life. I’m ready to stay in this fight,” Senator Warren said on Friday.
“If we get the wrong nominee, we lose to Donald Trump, and that’s why I started the way I did.
“It was my job to make sure that America got a little closer look at Mayor Bloomberg and came to understand that of all the people standing on that stage he is the riskiest one for the Democrats.”
This week’s Democrat debate averaged a record-breaking 19.7 million viewers, suggesting that Democrat voters were eager to watch Mr Bloomberg’s first public debate after his advertising blitz.
Cameron Stewart is also US contributor for Sky News Australia
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