After booing former Democratic Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on the third night of the Democratic National Convention, Democratic delegates gave a rousing standing ovation to the Independent former New York City mayor Mike Bloomberg.
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“I know that Hillary Clinton isn’t flawless – no candidate is”, Bloomberg said.
“Trump has left behind a well-documented record of bankruptcies and thousands of lawsuits and angry shareholders and contractors who feel cheated and disillusioned customers who feel ripped off”, said Bloomberg, now an independent. “Trump’s business plan is a disaster in the making”.
Speeches throughout the week have been a mix of deeply emotional discussions highlighting the history of Clinton’s nomination to a lengthy, personal talk from Bill Clinton that sought to soften her image.
Bloomberg asked. “Truth be told, the richest thing about Donald Trump is his hypocrisy”.
Trump, 70, who often boasts about his extravagant wealth and success in the real estate business, is listed 113th with US$4.5 billion, though that figure has been widely challenged. The real-estate developer also reacts defensively when his success is questioned.
Bloomberg maintained this thread, criticizing Trump for saying he is a candidate who understands business. “We need a president who is a problem solver, not a bomb thrower”. I couldn’t agree more. “Because of my success in the private sector, I had the chance to run America’s largest city for 12 years”.
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He considered an independent bid for the White House himself, calling the national debate in February “banal”. “I have supported elected officials from both sides of the aisle”. “God help us”, he said, prompting the crowd to jump to their feet. A fellow New Yorker as Clinton and Trump, he knows the players, which is why his (not incredibly enthusiastic) endorsement of Clinton and takedown on Trump should, one might think, make those tens of millions of independent voters to seriously consider his arguments. “He will lay out why voters can not trust Trump to ensure our economic future”, an adviser said. “He would make it harder for small businesses to compete, do great damage to our economy, threaten the retirement savings of millions of Americans, lead to greater debt and more unemployment, erode our influence around the world and make our communities less safe”.
