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.”
Obama Center’s opening ceremony ridiculed for far-left ritual before star-studded show
WATCH: Dem candidate grilled on stock trading after being duped with selfie request
Video: 2 Black Teens Rob White Kids’ Lemonade Stand at Gunpoint… as Race-Baiters Demand ‘Justice’ for So-Called White Oppression
Read It: The Spiteful 3-Word Tweet That Cost California Liberals Up to $100 Billion and Elon Musk
Why George W Bush handed Altoids to Michelle Obama at her husband’s presidential center opening
Obama knocks Founders at presidential center debut before America’s 250th: ‘Fell terribly short’
‘American flag blue’ coating apparently peeling off in Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool
Planned Parenthood offered hormones but had no answers when detransitioner sought help, undercover probe finds
Trump Sends Forceful Message to ‘Jealous, Bad People’ Questioning His Iran Deal
Pete Hegseth Shames NATO Leaders to Their Faces, Demands They Take ‘Responsibility for the Defense of Europe’
Trump Iran framework gambles on diplomacy despite warning Tehran will ‘lie and cheat’
Dem Senate hopeful under fire for resurfaced comments calling cops ‘opportunistic cowards’
11 suspected illegal immigrants among 15 arrested in $1.4M benefits fraud crackdown in Massachusetts, DOJ says
JD Vance says he and Joy Behar are ‘best friends now’
Luigi Mangione’s emotional disturbance defense may have huge impact in his other case: lawyer
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.
Obama Center’s opening ceremony ridiculed for far-left ritual before star-studded show
WATCH: Dem candidate grilled on stock trading after being duped with selfie request
Video: 2 Black Teens Rob White Kids’ Lemonade Stand at Gunpoint… as Race-Baiters Demand ‘Justice’ for So-Called White Oppression
Read It: The Spiteful 3-Word Tweet That Cost California Liberals Up to $100 Billion and Elon Musk
Why George W Bush handed Altoids to Michelle Obama at her husband’s presidential center opening
Obama knocks Founders at presidential center debut before America’s 250th: ‘Fell terribly short’
‘American flag blue’ coating apparently peeling off in Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool
Planned Parenthood offered hormones but had no answers when detransitioner sought help, undercover probe finds
Trump Sends Forceful Message to ‘Jealous, Bad People’ Questioning His Iran Deal
Pete Hegseth Shames NATO Leaders to Their Faces, Demands They Take ‘Responsibility for the Defense of Europe’
Trump Iran framework gambles on diplomacy despite warning Tehran will ‘lie and cheat’
Dem Senate hopeful under fire for resurfaced comments calling cops ‘opportunistic cowards’
11 suspected illegal immigrants among 15 arrested in $1.4M benefits fraud crackdown in Massachusetts, DOJ says
JD Vance says he and Joy Behar are ‘best friends now’
Luigi Mangione’s emotional disturbance defense may have huge impact in his other case: lawyer
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.
