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.”
Cornyn denies MAGA pressure forced support for talking filibuster on SAVE Act
Trump reveals top issues GOP should focus on to secure midterms victory: ‘I’ve never been more confident’
Trump calls SAVE America Act his ‘No. 1’ priority for House GOP
Obama Judge Gets Schooled by Appeals Court Following ‘Constitutionally Suspect’ Injunction Against DHS
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the ‘talking filibuster’ and the SAVE Act
FBI subpoenas Arizona county voting records related to notorious 2020 audit
Zuckerberg Sued: Meta’s AI Glasses Accused of Recording Intimate Moments, Sending Footage to Foreign Contractors
40+ House Republicans rally behind Markwayne Mullin for DHS, call it a ‘critical moment’ for border security
Storage facility raided as feds investigate alleged ISIS-inspired NYC bomb throwers
Biden-appointed judge in the hot seat after DHS fires back at ‘false’ claims about ICE facility
Alexander brothers learn fate in federal sex trafficking trial
Trump Rejects Biden’s Executive Privilege Claim, Says It’s ‘Not in the Best Interests of the United States’
Police Bodycam Caught Chilling Statement from NYC Terror Suspect After He Was Taken Into Custody
Judge rejects Fani Willis bid to intervene in Trump $17 million reimbursement fight
Savannah Guthrie spotted in NYC as search for missing mother enters sixth week with few answers
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.
Cornyn denies MAGA pressure forced support for talking filibuster on SAVE Act
Trump reveals top issues GOP should focus on to secure midterms victory: ‘I’ve never been more confident’
Trump calls SAVE America Act his ‘No. 1’ priority for House GOP
Obama Judge Gets Schooled by Appeals Court Following ‘Constitutionally Suspect’ Injunction Against DHS
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the ‘talking filibuster’ and the SAVE Act
FBI subpoenas Arizona county voting records related to notorious 2020 audit
Zuckerberg Sued: Meta’s AI Glasses Accused of Recording Intimate Moments, Sending Footage to Foreign Contractors
40+ House Republicans rally behind Markwayne Mullin for DHS, call it a ‘critical moment’ for border security
Storage facility raided as feds investigate alleged ISIS-inspired NYC bomb throwers
Biden-appointed judge in the hot seat after DHS fires back at ‘false’ claims about ICE facility
Alexander brothers learn fate in federal sex trafficking trial
Trump Rejects Biden’s Executive Privilege Claim, Says It’s ‘Not in the Best Interests of the United States’
Police Bodycam Caught Chilling Statement from NYC Terror Suspect After He Was Taken Into Custody
Judge rejects Fani Willis bid to intervene in Trump $17 million reimbursement fight
Savannah Guthrie spotted in NYC as search for missing mother enters sixth week with few answers
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.
