CONCORD: New Yorkbusiness tycoon Michael Bloomberg has paved the way for a shot at the USpresidency, registering as a candidate in the Alabama Democratic primary racebefore Friday's filing deadline. Although the 77-year-old billionaire has not publicly announced his run,his inclusion among a crowded field kept his options open for mounting aconcerted bid to topple a fellow New Yorker, President Donald Trump.
Analysts say aBloomberg candidacy could do the most damage to the prospects of frontrunnerJoe Biden, but the former vice president put on a brave face Friday and said hewas not worried Bloomberg would draw away centrist voters. Bloomberg's name wasposted among 17 candidates on the Alabama Democratic Party's website only hoursbefore registration closed.
Alabama is notone of the early primaries but it has the earliest deadline to register. Biden,who will also turn 77 on November 20, has placed himself in the political centerwith South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, while Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders andMassachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren run to his left. "Michael's a solidguy," Biden told reporters in Concord, New Hampshire, while registering totake part in the February primary in the northeastern state.
"I have no,no problem with him getting in the race," Biden said. "And in termsof he's running because of me, last polls I looked at I'm pretty far ahead."If I'm not mistaken I'm doing pretty well, both relative to Trump andrelative to all the people running," he said. Jason Mollica of AmericanUniversity said the entry of Bloomberg in the race could be "an indicationthat he believes the Democrats do not have a strong candidate that can defeatPresident Trump."
"Mr Biden'scampaign isn't the strength it was at the start and if Mr Bloomberg gains thesupport of the centrists in the Democratic Party, that is a big sign for MrBiden the party doesn't feel he's the right candidate, either," Mollicasaid. Kyle Kondik of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia saida Bloomberg run could conceivably draw support away from Biden but it remainsto be seen how much backing he'll receive in a crowded field.
"At firstblush, yes, one might think Bloomberg would hurt Biden more than others,"Kondik said. "But we have to remember that sometimes voters don't fitneatly into ideological categories."While neither is running hard to theleft and both are older white men, voters might perceive key differences betweenthem," Kondik said. "Bloomberg has to actually show he can drawsignificant support in order to hurt Biden."
'Doesn't have themagic'
Trump weighed inFriday on a potential Bloomberg bid. "Little Michael will fail,"Trump told reporters in a reference to the stature of the 5ft, 8in (1.73m)Bloomberg. "He doesn't have the magic to do well. "There's nobody I'drather run against than little Michael," Trump added. "He's not goingto do well but I think he's going to hurt Biden actually."
Bloomberg saidback in March he wouldn't run, but has been toying for weeks with the idea ofseeking the White House after all, according to advisors. "We now need tofinish the job and ensure that Trump is defeated - but Mike is increasinglyconcerned that the current field of candidates is not well positioned to dothat," Bloomberg advisor Howard Wolfson said in a statement. "Basedon his record of accomplishment, leadership and his ability to bring peopletogether to drive change, Mike would be able to take the fight to Trump andwin," Wolfson added, according to Bloomberg News.
Bloomberg,co-founder and CEO of the media and financial information company that bearshis name, is one of the richest people in the United States according toForbes, worth $52.4 billion. His huge personal wealth would likely shake up thecontest at a time when Biden's fundraising is sagging. Bloomberg, who waselected mayor of the Big Apple in 2001 and served until 2013, is seen as closeto Wall Street and opposed to some of the policies espoused by the more liberalWarren and Sanders.
His entry wouldbloat an already crowded field of contenders, with 17 candidates vying for theright to take on Trump in November 2020 as the Democratic nominee. Bloomberghas switched between the Republican and Democratic parties over the years andalso served as an independent mayor. He has used some of his fortune to backDemocratic politicians and fund policies that he believes in - including guncontrol and the fight against climate change. Bloomberg considered running forpresident as an independent in 2016 but eventually opted not to for fear ofsplitting the Democratic vote. - AFP