Trying to bounce back from a disappointing fourth place finish in New Hampshire, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) found energy and solace from a large turnout at a Thursday night rally in the Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C., as Warren aimed her fire at the stalking horse of the 2020 Democratic race, billionaire Michael Bloomberg.
Veering away from her usual stump speech, Warren turned her fire on Bloomberg, who has quickly turned into a threat to every Democratic candidate who survived the Iowa Caucuses and the New Hampshire Primary.
"Michael Bloomberg came in on the billionaire plan," Warren said, as the crowd booed at the mention of his name. "Just buy yourself the nomination."
“A video just came out yesterday in which Michael Bloomberg is saying in effect, that the 2008 financial crash was caused because the banks weren’t permitted to discriminate against black and brown people,” Warren said, sharpening a verbal knife for the former New York mayor.
“And anyone who thinks that should not be the leader of our party," Warren added.
The turnout for Warren's stop overwhelmed a large gymnasium at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia, an area which voted overwhelmingly for Hillary Clinton in 2016, as hundreds of people were shunted to an overflow room, with hundreds more kept outside.
Before starting her rally, the Massachusetts Democrat was greeted by loud cheers from the first overflow room as she vowed to press ahead in this Democratic race for the White House.
"I am in this fight with you until we win it," a charged-up Warren said.
The Senator then threw on a coat and sprinted outside where hundreds more were standing in the dark, unable to get in the schoolhouse door.
Back inside before the crowd in the gym, Warren wasted little time getting down to the business of the 2020 race.
"I'm here to ask for your vote," Warren said early in her remarks, reflecting a new sense of urgency in her stump speech.
"We've heard from two states," Warren said, making clear she's not quitting after just Iowa and New Hampshire.
In a county which voted 76-17 percent for Hillary Clinton in 2016 over Donald Trump, Warren's message was very well received - no matter the troubles she ran into in New Hampshire.
"The story is the scene outside," one woman said unprompted to me about the hundreds and hundreds of people outside who were unable to get in to see Warren. "It's phenomenal."
A few hours before her appearance in Virginia, it was a different kind of feel, as Warren sent a video fundraising plea to her supporters.
"I need to level with you," Warren said from what looked like a kitchen in a house. "Our movement needs critical funds so that I can remain competitive in this race through Super Tuesday."
Super Tuesday is in less than three weeks on March 3, meaning there is little time to campaign in person in Nevada, South Carolina - and the fourteen Super Tuesday states.
"We setting an ambitious goal of raising $7 million before the Nevada Caucuses," Warren added in her plea for cash.
Nevada takes place on February 22. The South Carolina Primary is February 29. In between, there are two Democratic debates.
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