With time running short on the campaign trail before Super Tuesday, Michael Bloomberg brought his bid for the Democratic nomination for President to the suburbs of Washington, D.C. on Saturday, pressing the case that he is the candidate best suited to take on President Donald Trump in November, attacking the President over his handling of the Coronavirus.
“His incompetence puts us all at risk,” Bloomberg said, noting the President's charge at a campaign rally Friday night in South Carolina that Democrats are trying to turn the Coronavirus issue into their latest “hoax” against him.
“You can't make this up,” Bloomberg said, as the crowd booed loudly at the mention of the 'hoax' statement.
"At a time when the President should be putting politics aside and rallying the American people behind him, he continues to divide by playing partisan politics," Bloomberg added, as his campaign pressed that message on social media as well.
"We're going to have a big day on Tuesday," Bloomberg said to hundreds of supporters gathered at a hotel ballroom just outside the Beltway - but not far from the halls of power in Washington.
"We're only a few miles from the White House, so let's make sure the President can hear us loud and clear," Bloomberg said. "And let's make sure on Tuesday that he hears from us even louder and clearer."
Bloomberg made no mention of any of his rivals in the Democratic race for the White House, as recent polls have shown his numbers possibly slipping in this state.
"The road to the white house goes right through the Commonwealth of Virginia," Bloomberg said to cheers.
Bloomberg's event emphasized his support for issues of interest to women, as he rattled off a series of items like paid family leave for workers, abortion rights, pre-K education, health care and more.
"Together we will build a country where women don't have to fight for equality,” Bloomberg said.
Bloomberg will be back in Virginia again on Monday, on the eve of Super Tuesday, as he will do a Fox News town hall in Manassas, a town about 40 miles to the west of Washington, D.C.
The former New York Mayor was also stumping for votes on Saturday in North Carolina, holding a rally in the coastal city of Wilmington, and joining a state Democratic Party event in Charlotte.
What comes after Super Tuesday for Bloomberg remains unclear - as a group which tracks political advertising buys has not seen any by Bloomberg in the contests which follow the March 3 primaries.
"This is very interesting," tweeted Dan Pfeiffer, a top advisor to President Barack Obama, musing about Bloomberg's future campaign plans.
In his Virginia stop, Bloomberg stressed to his audience that he has a track record from his time as the Mayor of New York of 'reaching across the aisle' to bring together Democrats, Republicans and Independents.
"That's what I've done in all three races, and I've won them all," as he jabbed repeatedly at the President, much to the delight of the crowd.
"I describe myself as the 'Un-Trump,'" Bloomberg said to cheers.
Whether he can deliver a big message on Tuesday will be up to voters in the 14 states of Super Tuesday.
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