Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's slow-roll rollout of likely joining the Democratic primary continued Wednesday with a Federal Election Commission filing declaring him a Democratic candidate for president — his biggest legal step toward a formal campaign announcement.
Without a podium on a nationally-televised debate stage, Bloomberg's uphill battle to compete might be a little steeper -- a hurdle he acknowledged earlier this month when he said in Arkansas' State Capitol after filing for the state's ballot,"It costs a lot of money whether you're doing it with your own money or somebody else's money to get a message out. I remember in New York City, it was very hard to get a message out and that's just one city.
When asked by reporters earlier this month about his renewed considerations and if they reflect his concerns over former Vice President Joe Biden and the rest of the field being weak, Bloomberg deflected, instead responding,"Joe Biden is a very nice guy. I've known him for a long time, and if you want to know about Joe Biden, you got to talk to Joe Biden, he's running his campaign. I'm running mine and one thing doesn't necessarily have anything to do with another.
"Today, I have re-registered as a Democrat -- I had been a member for most of my life -- because we need Democrats to provide the checks and balance our nation so badly needs," he said at the time. Two months later, Bloomberg reportedly held meetings with top Iowa Democrats during a multi-city tour through the first state that have a say in the presidential race, before ultimately ruling out a bid.
Bloomberg's wait-and-see approach on the sidelines didn't stop him from spending in the presidential contest. Digital ads targeting Trump for his behavior, such as his"tantrums" and"lies," started running on Facebook recently. The new drive will kick off across Arizona, Michigan, North Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin but could expand into other states.But perhaps in his most consequential step towards running for office, Bloomberg apologized for his longstanding and vehement support for"stop-and-frisk" policing on Sunday -- a stunning reversal for the former mayor who vigorously defended the policy throughout his tenure, which began in 2001, a few weeks after the Sept. 11 terror attacks.
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