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.”
Trump Predicts Supreme Court ‘Will Find a Way to Come to the Wrong Conclusion’ on Birthright Citizenship
ICE arrests convicted pedophiles, violent assailants as Trump meets with Angel Families
Ex-Navy SEAL puts ‘deranged’ Mexican drug cartel on notice after violent weekend: ‘More like ISIS’
Housekeeper expected to play key role in trial of wife accused of husband’s murder in wealthy ski town
How to Get a Birth Certificate for Dummies: A Guide for Democrats Who Oppose Secure Elections
Secret tapes sink shooter’s defense in Scott Spivey road rage killing
Angel Families praise Trump for immigration crackdown: ‘You are the man’
Trump halts Angel Families speech to check on woman in audience
Watch: CNN Host Goes Rogue on Air, Saying ‘Blue Cities Are Out of Control’ and Then Tearing Them Apart for 2 Minutes Straight
Watch: Media Melts Down After Kash Celebrates Team USA Win with a Chest Thump and Beer in His Hand – But He’s Not Backing Down
Kim Jong Un reelected as North Korean leader, teen daughter to serve as ‘missile chief’
Trump fires judge-picked US attorney as top DOJ official warns courts to stay in their lane
Reporter’s Notebook: Trump’s State of the Union becomes political boxing match as Democrats boycott
First antifa terrorism trial restarts following mistrial: What you need to know
Newsom’s office rebuffs ‘MAGA-manufactured outrage’ on his SAT score statement
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.
Trump Predicts Supreme Court ‘Will Find a Way to Come to the Wrong Conclusion’ on Birthright Citizenship
ICE arrests convicted pedophiles, violent assailants as Trump meets with Angel Families
Ex-Navy SEAL puts ‘deranged’ Mexican drug cartel on notice after violent weekend: ‘More like ISIS’
Housekeeper expected to play key role in trial of wife accused of husband’s murder in wealthy ski town
How to Get a Birth Certificate for Dummies: A Guide for Democrats Who Oppose Secure Elections
Secret tapes sink shooter’s defense in Scott Spivey road rage killing
Angel Families praise Trump for immigration crackdown: ‘You are the man’
Trump halts Angel Families speech to check on woman in audience
Watch: CNN Host Goes Rogue on Air, Saying ‘Blue Cities Are Out of Control’ and Then Tearing Them Apart for 2 Minutes Straight
Watch: Media Melts Down After Kash Celebrates Team USA Win with a Chest Thump and Beer in His Hand – But He’s Not Backing Down
Kim Jong Un reelected as North Korean leader, teen daughter to serve as ‘missile chief’
Trump fires judge-picked US attorney as top DOJ official warns courts to stay in their lane
Reporter’s Notebook: Trump’s State of the Union becomes political boxing match as Democrats boycott
First antifa terrorism trial restarts following mistrial: What you need to know
Newsom’s office rebuffs ‘MAGA-manufactured outrage’ on his SAT score statement
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.
