Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg pushed back his CNN townhall from Monday to Wednesday to better prepare for a Democratic presidential debate slated for Tuesday night.
Bloombergs campaign linked the move to the billionaires desire to confront Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).
“The country cant afford to let Bernie Sanders skate by another debate without a focus on his extreme record,” Galia Slayen, the Bloomberg campaigns national press secretary, said in a statement to The Epoch Times.
“Mike is preparing for Tuesdays crucial debate, and looks forward to taking part in CNNs town hall on Wednesday.”
Bloomberg and Sanders, both 78, clashed at last weeks debate in Nevada. After Sanders said that billionaires are able to get by paying little in taxes, Bloomberg noted that the longtime federal lawmaker owns three homes.
“What a wonderful country we have,” Bloomberg said. “The best known socialist in the country happens to be a millionaire with three houses. What did I miss?”
Sanders said that one of his homes is in Washington, where he works as a senator, and another is in Vermont. The third, he said, is “a summer camp.”
“Where is your home? Which tax haven is your home?” Sanders asked Bloomberg.
The former mayor said he lives in New York City and pays all of his taxes. He added that as mayor, he raised taxes on city residents.
After Bloomberg said that he earned his money by working hard, Sanders jumped in, telling him: “Maybe it wasnt you who made all that money. Maybe your workers played a part in that as well.”
The Feb. 25 debate in South Carolina will again feature Bloomberg and Sanders along with Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), 70; Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), 59; former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, 38; and former Vice President Joe Biden, 77.
Businessman Tom Steyer, who didnt qualify for the last debate, will be back on the stage on Tuesday.
South Carolina voters head to the polls on Saturday.
The Epoch Times
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