This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-50352801
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| US election 2020: Trump taunts 'little' Bloomberg to challenge him | US election 2020: Trump taunts 'little' Bloomberg to challenge him |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| US President Donald Trump has taunted former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who has taken a key step towards joining the White House race. | US President Donald Trump has taunted former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who has taken a key step towards joining the White House race. |
| Speaking to reporters early on Friday, Mr Trump said of the billionaire: "There is nobody I'd rather run against than little Michael." | Speaking to reporters early on Friday, Mr Trump said of the billionaire: "There is nobody I'd rather run against than little Michael." |
| Mr Bloomberg later filed paperwork for the Democratic presidential primary in Alabama. | Mr Bloomberg later filed paperwork for the Democratic presidential primary in Alabama. |
| But he has so far not announced that he is running for president. | But he has so far not announced that he is running for president. |
| What else did President Trump say? | What else did President Trump say? |
| On Friday, Mr Trump said Mr Bloomberg "doesn't have the magic" to make it to the White House. | On Friday, Mr Trump said Mr Bloomberg "doesn't have the magic" to make it to the White House. |
| He continued: "He's not going to do well, but I think he's going to hurt Biden actually." | He continued: "He's not going to do well, but I think he's going to hurt Biden actually." |
| Calling him "a nothing", Mr Trump said that Mr Bloomberg "will fail" if he joins the Democratic race. | Calling him "a nothing", Mr Trump said that Mr Bloomberg "will fail" if he joins the Democratic race. |
| What did Bloomberg's aide say? | What did Bloomberg's aide say? |
| In a statement late on Thursday, Bloomberg adviser Howard Wolfson said: "We now need to finish the job and ensure that Trump is defeated. | In a statement late on Thursday, Bloomberg adviser Howard Wolfson 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." | "But Mike is increasingly concerned that the current field of candidates is not well positioned to do that." |
| Mr Bloomberg is said to be fully aware such a belated entry to the race presents challenges in states like Iowa and New Hampshire, where other Democratic contenders have been campaigning for months. | Mr Bloomberg is said to be fully aware such a belated entry to the race presents challenges in states like Iowa and New Hampshire, where other Democratic contenders have been campaigning for months. |
| The Bloomberg team reportedly sees a possible pathway through the so-called Super Tuesday contests in March, when 14 states, including California, Alabama and Colorado, will vote on a single day for their preferred White House nominee. | The Bloomberg team reportedly sees a possible pathway through the so-called Super Tuesday contests in March, when 14 states, including California, Alabama and Colorado, will vote on a single day for their preferred White House nominee. |
| Mr Bloomberg, 77, considered running for the White House as an independent candidate in 2008 and 2016. | Mr Bloomberg, 77, considered running for the White House as an independent candidate in 2008 and 2016. |
| In March of this year he said he would not join the 2020 race. | In March of this year he said he would not join the 2020 race. |
| Why is he running now? | |
| Analysis - Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, Washington | |
| Why is he contemplating a run for the highest political job in the land just a few months after announcing he would watch 2020 from the sidelines? | |
| Here are a few theories. | |
| The top one is the obvious response. Bloomberg has plenty of pollsters and political strategists at his disposal and is reported to be a very data-driven businessman. It doesn't take an advanced degree in quantitative analysis, however, to realise that the Democratic field, even at this (relatively) late date is still in flux. | |
| There are four candidates at or near the top of early state and national primary polls - Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg. All of them have their strengths, of course, but all of them also have obvious weaknesses. | |
| What happens after after Alabama? | What happens after after Alabama? |
| Mr Bloomberg's advisers are reportedly preparing the paperwork for other states with upcoming deadlines. Both Arkansas and New Hampshire require candidates to file by next week. | Mr Bloomberg's advisers are reportedly preparing the paperwork for other states with upcoming deadlines. Both Arkansas and New Hampshire require candidates to file by next week. |
| State-by-state votes, known as primaries and caucuses, will be held from February next year to pick a Democratic White House nominee. | State-by-state votes, known as primaries and caucuses, will be held from February next year to pick a Democratic White House nominee. |
| The eventual winner will be crowned at the party convention in Wisconsin in July. He or she is expected to face President Trump, a Republican, in the general election in November. | The eventual winner will be crowned at the party convention in Wisconsin in July. He or she is expected to face President Trump, a Republican, in the general election in November. |
| A total of 17 Democratic candidates are vying to be the party's standard-bearer. | A total of 17 Democratic candidates are vying to be the party's standard-bearer. |
| Joe Biden, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders are the current front-runners. | Joe Biden, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders are the current front-runners. |
| What's the other reaction? | What's the other reaction? |
| Mr Biden told media on Friday that he had "no problem" with Mr Bloomberg joining the Democratic field. | Mr Biden told media on Friday that he had "no problem" with Mr Bloomberg joining the Democratic field. |
| "Michael is a solid guy," Mr Biden said. "Let's see where it goes." | "Michael is a solid guy," Mr Biden said. "Let's see where it goes." |
| Ms Warren welcomed Mr Bloomberg to the race on Twitter, linking to her own campaign website and suggesting the former mayor take a look for potential policy plans. | Ms Warren welcomed Mr Bloomberg to the race on Twitter, linking to her own campaign website and suggesting the former mayor take a look for potential policy plans. |
| In tweet seemingly directed at Mr Bloomberg, Mr Sanders wrote: "The billionaire class is scared and they should be scared." | In tweet seemingly directed at Mr Bloomberg, Mr Sanders wrote: "The billionaire class is scared and they should be scared." |
| Some recent opinion polls have suggested that Ms Warren and Mr Sanders - who are more politically liberal than Mr Biden - might face an uphill battle against Mr Trump. | Some recent opinion polls have suggested that Ms Warren and Mr Sanders - who are more politically liberal than Mr Biden - might face an uphill battle against Mr Trump. |
| The Republican National Committee said in a statement that the billionaire's prospective entry "underscores the weak Democrat field". | The Republican National Committee said in a statement that the billionaire's prospective entry "underscores the weak Democrat field". |
| Who is Bloomberg? | Who is Bloomberg? |
| Mr Bloomberg's net worth is $52bn (£40bn), according to Forbes - 17 times more than Mr Trump ($3.1bn). | |
| He was a Wall Street banker before going on to create the financial publishing empire that bears his name. | He was a Wall Street banker before going on to create the financial publishing empire that bears his name. |
| He staged a successful campaign for New York mayor in 2001, remaining in office for three consecutive terms through 2013. | He staged a successful campaign for New York mayor in 2001, remaining in office for three consecutive terms through 2013. |
| A philanthropist, he has donated millions of dollars to educational, medical and other causes. | A philanthropist, he has donated millions of dollars to educational, medical and other causes. |
| Originally a Democrat, Mr Bloomberg became a Republican to mount his campaign for New York mayor. Now regarded as a moderate Democrat, he rejoined the party only last year. | |
| Mr Bloomberg has liberal views on issues such as climate change, gun control, immigration and abortion rights. | Mr Bloomberg has liberal views on issues such as climate change, gun control, immigration and abortion rights. |
| But he is more conservative on topics like the economy and policing. | |