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| US election 2020: Michael Bloomberg mulls presidential bid | US election 2020: Michael Bloomberg mulls presidential bid |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Billionaire businessman Michael Bloomberg is strongly considering entering the race for the US Democratic Party's presidential nomination. | Billionaire businessman Michael Bloomberg is strongly considering entering the race for the US Democratic Party's presidential nomination. |
| The ex-New York City mayor is concerned the current field of candidates is not good enough to beat Donald Trump in the 2020 election, his spokesman says. | The ex-New York City mayor is concerned the current field of candidates is not good enough to beat Donald Trump in the 2020 election, his spokesman says. |
| The 77-year-old is expected to file paperwork this week for the Democratic presidential primary in Alabama. | The 77-year-old is expected to file paperwork this week for the Democratic presidential primary in Alabama. |
| A total of 17 candidates are currently vying to take on President Trump. | A total of 17 candidates are currently vying to take on President Trump. |
| Former Vice-President Joe Biden, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders are the Democratic frontrunners. | |
| Some recent opinion polls have suggested that Ms Warren and Mr Sanders - who are regarded as to the left of Mr Biden - might lose against Republican Mr Trump if either won the party's nomination. | |
| Mr Bloomberg's spokesman said: "We now need to finish the job and ensure that Trump is defeated. But Mike is increasingly concerned that the current field of candidates is not well positioned to do that." | Mr Bloomberg's spokesman said: "We now need to finish the job and ensure that Trump is defeated. But Mike is increasingly concerned that the current field of candidates is not well positioned to do that." |
| A New York billionaire as president? | A New York billionaire as president? |
| So far this is only a single toe entering the water, but it's a significant one. The presence of the former New York mayor and multi-billionaire would set alight the race for the Democratic Party nomination. | So far this is only a single toe entering the water, but it's a significant one. The presence of the former New York mayor and multi-billionaire would set alight the race for the Democratic Party nomination. |
| The politician closest to Mr Bloomberg's centrist outlook is Joe Biden - but his campaign appears to be fading. | The politician closest to Mr Bloomberg's centrist outlook is Joe Biden - but his campaign appears to be fading. |
| Mr Bloomberg has, I understand, been doing a lot of polling in early voting states like Iowa and New Hampshire. | Mr Bloomberg has, I understand, been doing a lot of polling in early voting states like Iowa and New Hampshire. |
| This isn't the first time that he's eyed a run at the presidency, only to eventually decide against. | This isn't the first time that he's eyed a run at the presidency, only to eventually decide against. |
| But in the past he's ruled himself out because he thought Americans wouldn't vote for a billionaire New York businessman. That concern no longer applies. | But in the past he's ruled himself out because he thought Americans wouldn't vote for a billionaire New York businessman. That concern no longer applies. |
| Who is Michael Bloomberg? | Who is Michael Bloomberg? |
| Mr Bloomberg was a Wall Street banker who went on to found the financial publishing empire which bears his name. A philanthropist, he has donated millions of dollars to educational, medical and other causes. | Mr Bloomberg was a Wall Street banker who went on to found the financial publishing empire which bears his name. A philanthropist, he has donated millions of dollars to educational, medical and other causes. |
| Originally a Democrat, he became a Republican to mount a successful campaign for mayor of New York City in 2001. | Originally a Democrat, he became a Republican to mount a successful campaign for mayor of New York City in 2001. |
| He went on to serve three terms as mayor until 2012, rejoining the Democratic Party only last year. | He went on to serve three terms as mayor until 2012, rejoining the Democratic Party only last year. |
| Regarded as a moderate Democrat, he has highlighted climate change as a key issue, but he had appeared to dismiss a potential run for the presidency earlier this year. | |
| Mr Bloomberg is a large financial backer of gun-control advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety, which he helped found in 2014. | |
| The group, and Mr Bloomberg, were seen as playing a major role in a sweeping victory for Democrats in Virginia state elections earlier this week. | |
| They vastly outspent gun lobby group the National Rifle Association - which is based in Virginia - by pumping $2.5m (£1.94m) into the state race. |