Michael Bloomberg has said he will eat at a Chinese restaurant in the coming days to show solidarity with businesses who have been hit by public fears about coronavirus.
The multi-billionaire and Democratic presidential candidate made the pledge during a Fox News town hall event in Virginia as he hopes to kickstart his 2020 campaign with a strong performance in Super Tuesday this week.
Mr Bloomberg was asked by Fox News’ Bret Baier how he would deal with the impact of coronavirus on the US economy.
“It’s not the economics, it’s the people that are afraid to go out,” he replied, as he argued financial solutions, such as tax cuts, were not the only way to help businesses during the outbreak.
“Go to Chinese restaurants all across the country here in America, where there’s no reason to think whatsoever that you’re going to catch the flu but people aren’t patronising them.”
Mamdani clashes with rivals in fiery debate less than three weeks before NYC chooses next mayor
Erika Kirk shows TPUSA staff Charlie’s Medal of Freedom: ‘You guys are all part of the legacy’
NYC schools sue Education Department over nearly $50M in grant cuts due to transgender policies
National Guard not welcome: NYC mayoral candidates come out strong against troop deployments
Jones and Miyares clash over murder texts as Dem repeatedly invokes Trump at heated, high-stakes debate
Jason Miyares hammers Jay Jones over leaked texts during Virginia attorney general debate
Watch: AOC and Bernie Sanders Flip Out on CNN’s Kaitlan Collins Over Chuck Schumer Question
Fox News ‘Antisemitism Exposed’ Newsletter: Hostages’ ‘deep and lasting effects’ revealed
Dem school board chair drops Senate bid after ‘radical empathy’ backlash over illegal immigrant superintendent
John Bolton Slapped with 18 Counts Under the Espionage Act: DOJ Drops Full 26-Page Indictment
Video shows gunman ‘lying in wait’ to ambush businessman outside estate as police hunt shooter: prosecutor
Dem Running for Senate in Maine as a Humble Veteran Called Himself a ‘Communist’ and Painted Rural Whites as Stupid and Racist Online
Pope Leo XIV appoints Chicago’s Cardinal Cupich to Vatican City’s governing commission
Smartmatic charged in alleged scheme to bribe election officials in Philippines
Admiral Overseeing Southern Command Steps Down Amid Strikes on Narco-Terrorists in the Caribbean
Mr Bloomberg added: “I thought to myself tonight, ‘I’m going to go to a Chinese restaurant’ — it actually turns out I can’t — but I will do it tomorrow night just to show the flag and help them.”
The 78-year-old businessman has based his unconventional campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination on winning big on Tuesday, when voting takes place in 14 states.
Mr Bloomberg has opted to ignore early states, such as Iowa and New Hampshire, which are normally seen as an indicator of who will win the nomination, and has spent vast sums of money from his personal fortune to fund his campaign.
The former mayor of New York has spent more than $501m (£392m) on television, radio and digital advertising since entering the race, according to CNN.
On Sunday night, he broadcast a three-minute advert on the coronavirus outbreak that mimicked a presidential TV address and reportedly cost more than $1.5m.
Mamdani clashes with rivals in fiery debate less than three weeks before NYC chooses next mayor
Erika Kirk shows TPUSA staff Charlie’s Medal of Freedom: ‘You guys are all part of the legacy’
NYC schools sue Education Department over nearly $50M in grant cuts due to transgender policies
National Guard not welcome: NYC mayoral candidates come out strong against troop deployments
Jones and Miyares clash over murder texts as Dem repeatedly invokes Trump at heated, high-stakes debate
Jason Miyares hammers Jay Jones over leaked texts during Virginia attorney general debate
Watch: AOC and Bernie Sanders Flip Out on CNN’s Kaitlan Collins Over Chuck Schumer Question
Fox News ‘Antisemitism Exposed’ Newsletter: Hostages’ ‘deep and lasting effects’ revealed
Dem school board chair drops Senate bid after ‘radical empathy’ backlash over illegal immigrant superintendent
John Bolton Slapped with 18 Counts Under the Espionage Act: DOJ Drops Full 26-Page Indictment
Video shows gunman ‘lying in wait’ to ambush businessman outside estate as police hunt shooter: prosecutor
Dem Running for Senate in Maine as a Humble Veteran Called Himself a ‘Communist’ and Painted Rural Whites as Stupid and Racist Online
Pope Leo XIV appoints Chicago’s Cardinal Cupich to Vatican City’s governing commission
Smartmatic charged in alleged scheme to bribe election officials in Philippines
Admiral Overseeing Southern Command Steps Down Amid Strikes on Narco-Terrorists in the Caribbean
Critics of the businessman have accused him of attempting to buy the nomination with his personal wealth, by ignoring traditional campaign events and spending huge amounts of money on advertising.
During a bruising Democratic debate last month, Mr Bloomberg was also targeted by another Democratic candidate, Elizabeth Warren, over his past comments about women and the use of non-disclosure agreements at his company.
“I’d like to talk about who we are running against. A billionaire who calls women fat broads and horse-faced lesbians. And no, I am not talking about Donald Trump. I am talking about Mayor Bloomberg,” Ms Warren said during the debate.
“Look, I’ll support whoever the Democratic nominee is, but understand this, Democrats take a huge risk if we just substitute one arrogant billionaire for another.”
As of Tuesday morning, Mr Bloomberg was in third place in the Democratic race, according to a polling average from RealClearPolitics.
Story cited here.
