Bloomberg Campaign Kicks Off 2020 Presidential Race In Levittown Area

Former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg’s Democratic campaign for president is focusing on Bucks County.

On Saturday morning, Bloomberg’s campaign opened an office in the Penndel Shopping Center near the Langhorne Train Station. Inside, the former-breakfast-joint-turned-office was filled with Bloomberg supporters, campaign signs and shirts, and fresh coffee in cups emblazoned with the candidate’s name. Outside, the Get It Done Express bus with Bloomberg’s name sat parked outside, even bringing its own security detail of former federal agents.

The morning’s big star was Bloomberg campaign adviser Tim O’Brien, a former business reporter who covered Donald Trump and his business years before he launched his successful run for president. O’Brien is a familiar face to regular cable news viewers and also beat back a $5 billion lawsuit filed by Trump after the former reporter authored a biography on the businessman years ago.

Talking to Bucks County supporters who traveled from around the Levittown area to as far away as Quakertown, O’Brien said his boss “has a heart of gold” and is willing work as hard as possible to win the White House.

The campaign adviser acknowledged that his boss was a “technocrat” and made “mistakes” during the Democratic primary debate earlier in the week. O’Brien didn’t hold back in admitting Bloomberg had a “bad debate performance” and promised it would be better at the next one.

Among the topics discussed by Bloomberg supporters were concerns they’ve heard from voters that Bloomberg, who Forbes values at $65 billion, is buying the Democratic election. Bloomberg jumped in the race late, is self-funding his run by pouring boatloads of money into the effort, and focusing his attention on states with larger delegate counts.

“You can buy exposure, but not an election,”  O’Brien said.

Voters were assured by O’Brien that Bloomberg believes in the progressive issues that other candidates do but also wants the math to add up. He said the candidate has supported bad policies in the past and is working to learn more and move past them.

An informal poll of people at the Bloomberg campaign office opening showed mainly Democrats, but some Republicans and independents were in attendance.

A voter asked O’Brien how Bloomberg supporters can deal with die-hard Trump, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, and Sen. Bernie Sanders’ fans who oppose him.

O’Brien said using facts and the truth is the best way to win over voters.

“We’re going to take Bernie on directly,” he said, noting Sander’s recent attacks on Bloomberg and his wealth.

As he headed out of Penndel Borough to other Philadelphia-area Bloomberg campaign office openings, O’Brien said the campaign is focusing on the primary election, the general election, and pivotal toss-up states like Pennsylvania.

O’Brien said the Bloomberg campaign has 2,100 staffers, lots of volunteers, and a presence in 45 states.

A large part of O’Brien’s comments were about Trump and not necessarily about issues Bloomberg stands for.

O’Brien said after the event that the campaign is taking on Trump, while also focusing on important issues like health care.

Echoing statements made on TV this week, O’Brien told LevittownNow.com that Bloomberg would sell his eponymous company that made him a billionaire if he wins the presidency. The move would be in contrast to Trump, who has backtracked on comments made about his involvement in his businesses before he was elected.

Mitch Kates, Bloomberg’s political director for Pennsylvania, told supporters they need to tell friends and family about the candidate.

“We need to be viral,” he said.

The campaign has staff focusing on Bucks County and will be working to get supporters out talking to residents, posting on social media, and phone banking, staffers said.

Larry Otter, a Doylestown attorney, was in attendance as a Bloomberg supporter and candidate for delegate.

For Otter, Bloomberg seems to be the strongest choice to win against Trump.

“I can’t see any of the other candidates catching fire,” he said.

Even if Bloomberg loses, he has pledged to use his money to support other Democrats, including down-ballot ones. His staff said the Penndel office will be open through the November election whether or not he is the nominee.

Bloomberg is the first presidential candidate to set up an office in the county this cycle. Normally, presidential campaigns ramp up local efforts later in spring and following party conventions in summer.

Largely moderate Bucks County is expected to be a major swing district in the upcoming election. Hillary Clinton beat Trump in 2016 by just a few thousand votes. While nearly all the county row offices have been won by Democrats in the past two elections, Republican Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick has hung onto his seat by framing himself as a moderate Republican.

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