Billionaire and former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg spent over a half billion dollars of his own money to compete in Super Tuesday’s Democratic presidential primaries. He only won American Samoa, a U.S. territory that holds a caucus and awards six delegates, and placed no higher than third anywhere else.
He said he is leaving the race because he believes that is the best way to defeat President Donald Trump, but he wasn’t walking away from the fight.
“I’m a believer in using data to inform decisions. After yesterday’s results, the delegate math has become virtually impossible – and a viable path to the nomination no longer exists. But I remain clear-eyed about my overriding objective: victory in November. Not for me, but for our country. And so while I will not be the nominee, I will not walk away from the most important political fight of my life,” he said in a released statement.
“I’ve always believed that defeating Donald Trump starts with uniting behind the candidate with the best shot to do it. After yesterday’s vote, it is clear that candidate is my friend and a great American, Joe Biden,” Bloomberg added. “I’ve known Joe for a very long time. I know his decency, his honesty, and his commitment to the issues that are so important to our country – including gun safety, health care, climate change, and good jobs.”
“I’ve had the chance to work with Joe on those issues over the years, and Joe has fought for working people his whole life. Today I am glad to endorse him – and I will work to make him the next President of the United States,” he said.
Bloomberg’s exit from the race and with U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren pulling far-left voters away from U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, Biden’s pathway to the nomination became much clearer.