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.”
Fox News Campus Radicals Newsletter: Jewish student abuse alleged, disrespecting Charlie Kirk, woke work
FBI arrests protester who threatened to kill ICE officer’s family at NJ detention center protest, Blanche says
Uber CEO: In the Future, You Won’t Own Your Car
Dan Sullivan vs. Dan Sullivan: GOP blasts clone candidate as lookalike enters Alaska Senate race
Virginia bus crash that killed five involved driver who doesn’t speak English, Sean Duffy says
Who is Christopher Cooper, the judge who blocked Trump’s plans for the Kennedy Center?
Dem Senate hopeful Abdul El-Sayed recounts smashing vodka bottle after beard criticism
GRAPHIC: Next Time Somebody Complains ICE Is Wearing Masks, Shut Them up with This Footage – ‘Your Whole ****ing Family Is Dead … I Have Your Face!’
Coast Guard ending race-based admissions for officer commissioning program under Trump DEI crackdown
Sheridan Gorman’s alleged illegal immigrant killer caught with weapon while in jail custody, police say
Minnesota Law Enforcement Travels to Texas to Arrest ICE Agent
CodePink’s Medea Benjamin confirms getting ‘serious’ Treasury Department query over Cuba trip
Obama-Appointed Judge Blocks Renaming of Kennedy Center and Closing It for Renovations
Purple Heart Vet Graham Platner Wished Death On Excoriates Him in Op-Ed: ‘Tim Walz on Steroids’
African Court Orders Trump Administration to Halt Its Ebola Quarantine Plan
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.
Fox News Campus Radicals Newsletter: Jewish student abuse alleged, disrespecting Charlie Kirk, woke work
FBI arrests protester who threatened to kill ICE officer’s family at NJ detention center protest, Blanche says
Uber CEO: In the Future, You Won’t Own Your Car
Dan Sullivan vs. Dan Sullivan: GOP blasts clone candidate as lookalike enters Alaska Senate race
Virginia bus crash that killed five involved driver who doesn’t speak English, Sean Duffy says
Who is Christopher Cooper, the judge who blocked Trump’s plans for the Kennedy Center?
Dem Senate hopeful Abdul El-Sayed recounts smashing vodka bottle after beard criticism
GRAPHIC: Next Time Somebody Complains ICE Is Wearing Masks, Shut Them up with This Footage – ‘Your Whole ****ing Family Is Dead … I Have Your Face!’
Coast Guard ending race-based admissions for officer commissioning program under Trump DEI crackdown
Sheridan Gorman’s alleged illegal immigrant killer caught with weapon while in jail custody, police say
Minnesota Law Enforcement Travels to Texas to Arrest ICE Agent
CodePink’s Medea Benjamin confirms getting ‘serious’ Treasury Department query over Cuba trip
Obama-Appointed Judge Blocks Renaming of Kennedy Center and Closing It for Renovations
Purple Heart Vet Graham Platner Wished Death On Excoriates Him in Op-Ed: ‘Tim Walz on Steroids’
African Court Orders Trump Administration to Halt Its Ebola Quarantine Plan
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.
