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.”
Unsealed FBI interviews reveal Obama, Emanuel’s discussions about Blagojevich Senate seat deal
Trump declares victory in historic deal with Greenland as he secures ‘permanent’ US military rights
FAA advances Trump’s ‘Triumphal Arch’ after review finds height doesn’t pose safety hazard to planes
Fox News Campus Radicals Newsletter: Trump bashing, chilled speech and a major saga renewed
Internet Detectives Are Convinced an Innocuous Converse Sneaker Ad Is Full of White Supremacist Dog Whistles
Hasan Piker calls Bin Laden a ‘spoiled brat,’ labels 9/11 ‘blowback’ in Axios interview
Watch: ‘CBS Mornings’ Suddenly Heaps Praise on Lindsay Clancy Holdout Juror in Light of New Developments
Foreign hackers breach two more US water utilities, threaten safety of Colorado residents
Illegal immigrant arrested in Indiana for allegedly voting in federal election: DHS
Federal ban on handgun sales for young adults cannot be enforced, DOJ finds
EU floats even more ‘associate members’ as diplomats dismiss vague proposal as ‘middle power bulls***’
El Sayed says he and Harris have ‘come together’ after Biden administration’s struggle with pro-Palestinian wing
New Netflix Kids Movie Slammed as ‘One of the Most Satanic Inversions’
GOP lawmakers smell something else behind Big Tech’s AI doomsday warnings: ‘Something else going on’
‘As a Lifelong Democrat, I Am Ashamed’: Mom Blasts Her Party After Illegal Kills Her Son and His New Bride
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.
Unsealed FBI interviews reveal Obama, Emanuel’s discussions about Blagojevich Senate seat deal
Trump declares victory in historic deal with Greenland as he secures ‘permanent’ US military rights
FAA advances Trump’s ‘Triumphal Arch’ after review finds height doesn’t pose safety hazard to planes
Fox News Campus Radicals Newsletter: Trump bashing, chilled speech and a major saga renewed
Internet Detectives Are Convinced an Innocuous Converse Sneaker Ad Is Full of White Supremacist Dog Whistles
Hasan Piker calls Bin Laden a ‘spoiled brat,’ labels 9/11 ‘blowback’ in Axios interview
Watch: ‘CBS Mornings’ Suddenly Heaps Praise on Lindsay Clancy Holdout Juror in Light of New Developments
Foreign hackers breach two more US water utilities, threaten safety of Colorado residents
Illegal immigrant arrested in Indiana for allegedly voting in federal election: DHS
Federal ban on handgun sales for young adults cannot be enforced, DOJ finds
EU floats even more ‘associate members’ as diplomats dismiss vague proposal as ‘middle power bulls***’
El Sayed says he and Harris have ‘come together’ after Biden administration’s struggle with pro-Palestinian wing
New Netflix Kids Movie Slammed as ‘One of the Most Satanic Inversions’
GOP lawmakers smell something else behind Big Tech’s AI doomsday warnings: ‘Something else going on’
‘As a Lifelong Democrat, I Am Ashamed’: Mom Blasts Her Party After Illegal Kills Her Son and His New Bride
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.
