US election 2020: How can Michael Bloomberg enter the presidential race so late?

Bloomberg short-circuited the normal timeframe for a campaign with his vast fortune, bringing his rivals’ ire in Las Vegas last night

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 19: Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) (R) gestures as Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and former New York City mayor Mike Bloomberg listen
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders gestures at former New York City mayor Mike Bloomberg during the Democratic presidential primary debate in Las Vegas on February 19
(Image credit: 2020 Getty Images)

Last night’s Democratic debate in Las Vegas was the most bitter yet, as some of the high-profile candidates falling behind in the polls tried to jump-start their faltering campaigns.

Adding to the discord was the emergence of billionaire media and former mayor of New York City Michael Bloomberg - formerly a Republican - who was making his first appearance on the debate stage more than a year after some of his opponents launched their campaigns.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us
William Gritten

William Gritten is a London-born, New York-based strategist and writer focusing on politics and international affairs.