Former Republican New York City mayor, Democratic presidential candidate, and meme-making billionaire Mike Bloomberg made a pitstop in Raleigh on Thursday to peddle his born-again progressivism to a crowd of boomers at Union Station.
It went about as well as you could expect.
There was an ample showing of the press, free barbecue, and a few hundred people on hand to see a not-what-you’d-call-charismatic Bloomberg speak for 20 minutes. Almost everyone under the age of 50 appeared to be a staff member of a campaign that is almost literally lighting money on fire—and sucking up campaign talent from state and local races.
Bloomberg’s efforts to purchase himself a seat at the Resolute Desk seem to be working, as Joe Biden collapses and the party’s moderates cast about for an alternative to Bernie Sanders. He’s up to third in national polls now, eclipsing Elizabeth Warren.
Former Governor Bev Perdue introduced Bloomberg to the tepid crowd, noting he would get her vote because of his record on education and climate change.
“I know with all my heart he’s going to be our next president,” Perdue said. “He’s put his money where his mouth is.”
(Indeed, Bloomberg spent a lot of money propping up the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign, and last year he pledged $500 million toward a Beyond Carbon campaign. He’s donated $8 billion to climate change, gun control, and other initiatives. But that’s about 13 percent of his net worth—$61.8 billion, and constantly rising.)
Bloomberg, all five feet eight of him stood at a podium facing a pond of “I Like Mike” signs with all the swagger of a mortician, his glib, dry humor eliciting some laughs. He rattled off his achievements as mayor: raising teacher pay, addressing climate change.
He did not, however, address two recent controversies: his resurfaced remarks in support of stop-and-frisk, in which he said that young black men all look alike (he’s apologized, but still); and the AP’s story about how he blamed the end of redlining—the racist practice of blocking African Americans from getting mortgages in “white” neighborhoods—for the 2008 recession.
Instead, he mocked Trump. “When I’m president, there will be no tweeting from the Oval Office,” he said to applause. That’s a good thing, he continued, because he can’t spell. But then again, neither can Trump!
Election Day can’t come soon enough.
The rally lacked the energy of what Bernie will deliver in Durham tomorrow, but the crowd seemed hopeful that Bloomberg can deliver swing states like North Carolina.
“I think he can win,” said Elise Strever. “I think he’s an ethical person who is going to bring decency and kindness.”
In attendance was Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin and former mayors Charles Meeker and Nancy McFarlane, who posed for a selfie with Bloomberg before the rally. While Baldwin said she hasn’t made up her mind who she’s supporting in the primary, Bloomberg’s experience impressed her.
“I think he understands the issues we face in cities. He has a proven track record of dealing with issues like gun violence and climate change,” Baldwin said.
Contact Raleigh news editor Leigh Tauss at [email protected].
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Regarding your “report” on Bloomberg’s Raleigh Rally: Although he’s not my first choice, I found hour report borderline offensive and certainly not any journalism I’d be proud of. To be sure, he’ll be dogged by some of his controversial actions as mayor (ie. Stop & Frisk). But even you quickly mention all the campaigns dear to progressives (gun safety; environment; climate, to name only sum), yet imply both he’s spending too much money on the campaign, yet not enough on these programs. Guy can’t win. He’s “buying” the race…but how is that worse than pols using PAC money to buy their races? You even snipe at his height! How low of you. Pls. be better.
RE: “Bloomberg Asks for Raleigh’s Assistance in Purchasing the Presidency”
Foolish Optimist that I am, I would have thought that The Independent just might be in favor of the one candidate who stands the best chance of making a very public ass of Trump on a debate stage. Bloomberg has Stuck-It-To-Trump consistently and effectively time and again, while your beloved ‘Bernie’ drones on like an angry old man jealous that he has not got Bloomberg`s bank account…because he IS an angry old man jealous that he has not got Bloomberg`s bank account. Bernie is relentlessly Grumpy
Warren, ever-strident, screeches quietly as any Librarian-In-A-Snit would….Warren is Shrill.
Biden, once The Great Hope, apparently cannot get around his own worst enemy; himself, a consistent Bumbler.
Buttigieg (whose name I had to find, copy & paste for fear of getting it wrong) is a man of great intelligence and insight….except when it comes to realizing that America just is not ready (yet) to elect a Gay President. He might be able to get around the outdated prejudices of the (Mid-West) masses as a VP …But not as a viable, electable president. People just are not ‘there’ yet, and there is too much at stake here to gamble on Social evolution. Buttigieg is brilliant…but Naive.
Yet here is The Independent; casting it`s cool, snarky sneer at Bloomberg…
Sure, I know–the man has made his mistakes–serious ones–in the past.
He does not deny it. He acknowledges and apologizes ….
Which of course, counts for nothing with the eternally progressive and oh-so-sanctimonious staff of The Independent.
Y`know…
If a person`s errors determine who they WERE…
What they do about those errors should determine who they ARE.
Something you should consider before dissing Bloomberg.
He at least is on mission to Get Rid Of Trump, and is –literally–putting his own money to work to do it. Dismissing Bloomberg because he is not letter-perfect with your own ideologies and has committed the unpardonable sin of making the most money he could in a free-market economy just seems to me to be foolish.
Bloomberg is looking more and more like the man who can handle a smack-down with Trump, whose snarky, blustering, bully tactics would easily overwhelm Grumpy, Shrill, Bumbling or Naive.
Make no mistake; BEATING TRUMP IS WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT.
Social evolution can wait until AFTER that festering boil is excised from the Oval Office.