CONCORD, New Hampshire — Joe Biden said he has no problem with former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg jumping into the 2020 Democratic primary fight, even though the multibillionaire has the potential to financially swamp the former vice president’s cash-strapped campaign and upend the race.
“I welcome him in the race. Michael’s a solid guy. So let’s see where this goes,” the former Delaware senator told reporters Friday. “I have no problem with him getting in the race.”
Biden, 76, was in New Hampshire to file in the state’s Feb. 11 Democratic primary. He later held a rally outside the state House.
When asked if he believed Bloomberg’s potential entry in the race indicated that members of his party no longer believe he can win the primary, Biden dismissed the question and pointed to polls showing his leads in swing states.
“The last time I looked, I was pretty far ahead,” he said.
On Thursday, news broke that Bloomberg was sending staffers to Alabama to collect signatures so he can be on the state’s primary ballot with a Friday filing deadline approaching.
“We now need to finish the job and ensure that Trump is defeated — but Mike is increasingly concerned that the current field of candidates is not well positioned to do that,” said Howard Wolfson, a Bloomberg adviser. “If Mike runs, he would offer a new choice to Democrats built on a unique record running America’s biggest city, building a business from scratch, and taking on some of America’s toughest challenges as a high-impact philanthropist.”
Bloomberg, worth an estimated $52 billion, would self-fund a presidential bid. Biden’s campaign, meanwhile, had a weak fundraising quarter from July through September, taking in about $9 million — less than half of 2020 Democratic rivals Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders.
