Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg claims he is ready to spend more than $1 billion in an effort to oust President Trump, but money may not be bringing supporters to his campaign.
Just 45 people showed up to Bloomberg’s latest rally with TV star Judge Judy Sheindlin in Texas on Saturday, according to the New York Post.
“Unlike everyone else in this race, I think what’s important is beating Donald Trump,” Bloomberg told the sparse crowd of fewer than 50 people in San Antonio.
Bloomberg, 77, has eschewed tradition by entering the race late, forgoing attempts to make the debate stage, spending big out of his personal account, and focusing on the later states in an attempt to gain the 2020 Democratic nomination.
He has bought a $10 million TV spot that will air at this year’s Super Bowl, and his campaign’s digital ad buys are set to outpace Trump 4 to 1.
During his 13-minute stump speech, Bloomberg highlighted efforts to increase teacher pay in New York and his plan to cut carbon emissions. He then attacked Trump, saying he would spend less time tweeting if he were president.
“I can’t spell very well, so that’s relatively easy to do,” stated Bloomberg.
The RealClearPolitics national average shows Bloomberg polling at 5.8%, trailing former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, former Vice President Joe Biden, and Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Bernie Sanders of Vermont.
UPDATE: The Bloomberg campaign reached out to the Washington Examiner to dispute the number of attendees reported at events in Texas on Saturday. A campaign adviser said 130 people attended the restaurant gathering, while more than 700 people attended Bloomberg events throughout the day.
