“Even one of his closest advisers, Howard Wolfson, said that he’s going to spend whatever it takes because he believes the stakes couldn’t be higher. So confirming the fact that he’s literally trying to buy the presidency,” Compagno said during Monday morning’s broadcast.
Co-host Steve Doocy chimed in, adding that Bloomberg “certainly has the money.”
Bloomberg joined the crowded Democratic primary race on Sunday. In a letter explaining his candidacy, Bloomberg described himself as a “problem solver” who is “ready to take on the tough fights – and win.”
“We cannot afford four more years of President Trump’s reckless and unethical actions. He represents an existential threat to our country and our values. If he wins another term in office, we may never recover from the damage,” he wrote.
To start his 2020 campaign, Bloomberg reserved at least $30 million worth of television advertisements over the next two weeks. The ad purchase includes 60-second spots across 100 local media markets.
The former New York City mayor has also been under attack from his Democratic competitors for his multi-million advertising campaign. Senator Bernie Sanders said in a statement that he was “disgusted” by the television blitz.
“I’m disgusted by the idea that Michael Bloomberg or any other billionaire thinks they can circumvent the political process and spend tens of millions of dollars to buy our elections. It’s just the latest example of a rigged political system that we are going to change when we’re in the White House,” Sanders said.
He added: “If you can’t build grassroots support for your candidacy, you have no business running for president. The American people are sick and tired of the power of billionaires, and I suspect they won’t react well to someone trying to buy an election.”
Bloomberg is estimated to be worth $52 billion, according to Forbes. The 77-year-old made his fortune with a 15-year career on Wall Street before founding the financial information and media company Bloomberg LP in 1981.
“Nobody doubts his competence as a businessman,” co-host Brian Kilmeade said about Bloomberg. “No-one doubts his competence as someone to run an organization. He does have the experience to run a city. My feeling is, I just don’t understand what is now.”
Kilmeade added: “What did he not see in the field that makes him think at number 17, giving you up small state primary runs, any presence in the Iowa caucus, I can do it? And he’s gonna do it with money without taking any donations. He’s gonna do it attacking Trump, not the other 16 [Democrats].”
