cnbc--2020-02-18--Bloomberg qualifies for next Democratic debate

Democratic presidential candidate former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg delivers remarks during a campaign rally on February 12 , 2020 in Nashville , Tennessee .
Candidates can also qualify by winning at least one delegate from the Iowa caucus or the New Hampshire primary .
To date , former Vice President Joe Biden , former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg , and Sens .
Amy Klobuchar , D-Minn. , Bernie Sanders , I-Vt. , and Elizabeth Warren , D-Mass.
, have all qualified for the stage , according to an unofficial NBC News survey .
Candidates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or higher support or 12 percent or more in two single-state polls of Nevada and South Carolina .
They have until 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 18 to qualify for the debate , which is being hosted by NBC News , MSNBC and the Nevada Independent .
The billionaire media mogul received 19 percent of support from an NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll , allowing him to join the stage at the Feb. 19 debate in Las Vegas .
Former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg on Tuesday qualified for his first appearance in a Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Slayen told NBC News on Monday that he would participate in the debate if he qualified .
Bloomberg 's fellow billionaire in the race , Tom Steyer , has yet to hit either the polling or the delegate benchmark to qualify .
He sent a letter to Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez complaining that the time frame for the polling is too short and urging the DNC to allow in older polls .
The DNC has not budged .
The DNC announced last month that it was doing away with the grassroots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the qualifications for the previous eight debates .
Sanders , trying to head off Bloomberg threat , finds his billionaire foil Boy Scouts of America , hobbled by abuse suits , files for bankruptcy protection NASCAR driver Ryan Newman in serious condition after fiery crash at Daytona 500 The campaign of Sanders — who leads in national polls , according to a RealClearPolitics average— has accused the DNC of doing Bloomberg 's bidding with the rule change .
Bloomberg had not qualified for earlier debates because he was not accepting campaign donations .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the middle of the game to accommodate Mike Bloomberg , who is trying to buy his way into the Democratic nomination , is wrong , '' Jeff Weaver , one of Sanders ' top advisers , said then .
`` That 's the definition of a rigged system . ''
A senior adviser to Andrew Yang , who dropped out of the race last week , also '' If you look at the new DNC debate thresholds as anything other than , 'Get Andrew Yang off stage and put Mike Bloomberg on , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the adviser , Brad Bauman , tweeted after the announcement .
President Donald Trump suggested to reporters in the Oval Office Tuesday that Bloomberg would not be a good addition to the stage .
`` He 's a lightweight .
He 's also one of the worst debaters I 've ever seen .
His presence is zero , '' Trump said .

Democratic presidential candidate former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg delivers remarks during a campaign rally on February 12, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Candidates can also qualify by winning at least one delegate from the Iowa caucus or the New Hampshire primary. To date, former Vice President Joe Biden, former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, and Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., have all qualified for the stage, according to an unofficial NBC News survey.
Candidates need four national polls showing 10 percent or higher support or 12 percent or more in two single-state polls of Nevada and South Carolina. They have until 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 18 to qualify for the debate, which is being hosted by NBC News, MSNBC and the Nevada Independent.
The billionaire media mogul received 19 percent of support from an NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll, allowing him to join the stage at the Feb. 19 debate in Las Vegas.
Former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg on Tuesday qualified for his first appearance in a Democratic presidential primary debate.
Bloomberg spokeswoman Galia Slayen told NBC News on Monday that he would participate in the debate if he qualified.
Bloomberg's fellow billionaire in the race, Tom Steyer, has yet to hit either the polling or the delegate benchmark to qualify. He sent a letter to Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez complaining that the time frame for the polling is too short and urging the DNC to allow in older polls. The DNC has not budged.
The DNC announced last month that it was doing away with the grassroots donor threshold that had been used in the qualifications for the previous eight debates.
Read more from NBC News:
Sanders, trying to head off Bloomberg threat, finds his billionaire foil
Boy Scouts of America, hobbled by abuse suits, files for bankruptcy protection
NASCAR driver Ryan Newman in serious condition after fiery crash at Daytona 500
The campaign of Sanders — who leads in national polls, according to a RealClearPolitics average— has accused the DNC of doing Bloomberg's bidding with the rule change.
Bloomberg had not qualified for earlier debates because he was not accepting campaign donations.
"To now change the rules in the middle of the game to accommodate Mike Bloomberg, who is trying to buy his way into the Democratic nomination, is wrong," Jeff Weaver, one of Sanders' top advisers, said then. "That's the definition of a rigged system."
A senior adviser to Andrew Yang, who dropped out of the race last week, also criticized the change as being pro-Bloomberg.
"If you look at the new DNC debate thresholds as anything other than, 'Get Andrew Yang off stage and put Mike Bloomberg on,' then you are high," the adviser, Brad Bauman, tweeted after the announcement.
President Donald Trump suggested to reporters in the Oval Office Tuesday that Bloomberg would not be a good addition to the stage. "He's a lightweight. He's also one of the worst debaters I've ever seen. His presence is zero," Trump said.


cnbc--2020-02-20--Bloomberg's debate debacle may be the 'beginning of the end' of his 2020 run, pollster says

Billionaire former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg 's performance in his first Democratic presidential debate was so bad it may be the `` beginning of the end '' for his already late-starting campaign , pollster Frank Luntz said Thursday .
Just days before Saturday 's Nevada caucuses , Bloomberg was attacked on all sides Wednesday night by the five other candidates for the Democratic nomination on the debate stage in Las Vegas .
Luntz , a longtime GOP pollster and consultant on NBC 's hit series `` The West Wing , '' on CNBC compared Bloomberg 's debacle to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2012 race for the GOP presidential nomination .
At a CNBC-hosted debate in Michigan in November 2011 , Perry could not remember the third federal agency he wanted to eliminate .
Two months later , he dropped out .
`` We will look back at this debate potentially as the beginning of the end [ for Bloomberg ] because he did n't come across as prepared .
And more importantly , I do n't think he captured the tone of the audience , '' Luntz said on `` Squawk Box . ''
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comment .
`` The whole night was a challenging moment , '' argued Luntz , who said he worked with Bloomberg in 2001 .
`` He does n't like debates .
He does n't like that kind of give and take . ''
`` That 's not what he 's about .
The problem is it 's what the Democrats are about .
And he should have known that these candidates were going to take him on , '' Luntz added .
The harshest attacks came from Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calls women 'fat broads ' and 'horse-faced lesbians . '
'' Later , Warren called on Bloomberg to release female employees from nondisclosure agreements .
In response , Bloomberg said , `` None of them accused me of doing anything other than — maybe they did n't like a joke I told . ''
Luntz said he does n't know what the right answer to Warren was but what Bloomberg said was not it .
The pollster also said Bloomberg 's swipe at Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders for being the `` best known @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has three homes wo n't win the day with average Democrats .
`` He does n't realize that so many Democrats prioritize socialism over capitalism , '' Luntz said .
`` The average Democrat is working class .
The average Democrat is middle income .
And having a capitalism versus socialism debate , among the average Democrat , Bloomberg is going to lose that . ''
Sanders is going to win that argument every time , said Luntz , adding that 's why the Vermont independent , who calls himself a democratic socialist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic nomination to face President Donald Trump in the general election .
Ahead of the Nevada debate , Bloomberg was gaining ground in national polls .
The ex-mayor , with a net-worth over $ 65 billion , is self-funding his run for the White House .
Since joining the race late , in November , he has spent about $ 400 million of his personal fortune on campaign ads .
Despite participating in the Nevada debate , Bloomberg is not on a ballot until Super Tuesday on March 3 , when a third @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 16 nominating primaries and caucuses .
Between the Nevada caucuses and Super Tuesday , South Carolina holds its primary on Feb. 29 .

"We will look back at this debate potentially as the beginning of the end [for Bloomberg] because he didn't come across as prepared. And more importantly, I don't think he captured the tone of the audience," Luntz said on "Squawk Box."
At a CNBC-hosted debate in Michigan in November 2011 , Perry could not remember the third federal agency he wanted to eliminate. Two months later, he dropped out.
Luntz, a longtime Republican pollster and consultant to NBC's hit series "The West Wing," on CNBC compared Bloomberg's debacle to Rick Perry 's debate gaffe in the 2012 race for the GOP presidential nomination.
Just days before Saturday's Nevada caucuses, Bloomberg was attacked on all sides Wednesday night by the five other candidates for the Democratic nomination on the debate stage in Las Vegas.
Billionaire former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg 's performance in his first Democratic presidential debate was so bad that it may be the "beginning of the end" for his already late-starting campaign, pollster Frank Luntz said Thursday.
The Bloomberg campaign was not immediately available for comment.
"The whole night was a challenging moment," contended Luntz, who said he worked with Bloomberg in 2001. "He doesn't like debates. He doesn't like that kind of give and take."
"That's not what he's about. The problem is it's what the Democrats are about. And he should have known that these candidates were going to take him on," Luntz added.
The harshest attacks came from Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who said Bloomberg was a "billionaire who calls women 'fat broads' and 'horse-faced lesbians.'"
Later, Warren called on Bloomberg to release female employees from nondisclosure agreements. In response, Bloomberg said, "None of them accused me of doing anything other than — maybe they didn't like a joke I told."
Luntz said he doesn't know what the right answer to Warren was but what Bloomberg said was not it.
The pollster also said Bloomberg's swipe at Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders for being the "best known socialist in the country" who also has three homes won't win the day with average Democrats.
"He doesn't realize that so many Democrats prioritize socialism over capitalism," Luntz said. "The average Democrat is working class. The average Democrat is middle income. And having a capitalism versus socialism debate, among the average Democrat, Bloomberg is going to lose that."
Sanders is going to win that argument every time, said Luntz, adding that's why the Vermont independent, who calls himself a democratic socialist, is leading the race for the Democratic nomination to face President Donald Trump in the general election.
Ahead of the Nevada debate, Bloomberg was gaining ground in national polls.
The ex-mayor, with a net worth of more than $65 billion, is self-funding his run for the White House. Since joining the race late, in November, he has spent about $400 million of his personal fortune on campaign ads.
Despite participating in the Nevada debate, Bloomberg is not on a ballot until Super Tuesday on March 3, when a third of the delegates are up for grabs in 16 nominating primaries and caucuses.
Between the Nevada caucuses and Super Tuesday, South Carolina holds its primary on Feb. 29.


cnbc--2020-02-20--Warren, Sanders say their campaigns raised biggest debate day hauls yet

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-VT ) smiles during the Democratic presidential primary debate at Paris Las Vegas on February 19 , 2020 in Las Vegas , Nevada .
A night of duking it out on the debate stage paid off for Sens .
Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders , whose campaigns both recorded the most contributions ever received on a debate day .
Warren 's campaign announced early Thursday that it pulled in more than $ 2.8 million following the event in Las Vegas , Nevada , that was held just days before the state 's Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign said it raised $ 2.7 million from nearly 150,000 donations .
Warren and Sanders , who have built their campaigns around the promise to reduce wealth inequality , were among those who spent the night throwing jabs at former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg , who took to the debate stage for the first time alongside his rivals .
They accused the billionaire of buying his way into the election .
Bloomberg has spent about $ 400 million of his personal fortune on campaign ads since joining the race in late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take campaign donations , did n't qualify for previous debates .
The harshest blow came from Warren , who referred to Bloomberg as a `` billionaire who calls women 'fat broads ' and 'horse-faced lesbians . '
'' `` And no , I 'm not talking about Donald Trump , I 'm talking about Mayor Bloomberg , '' Warren said , prompting gasps from the audience .

Democratic presidential hopefuls Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders speak ahead of the ninth Democratic primary debate of the 2020 presidential campaign season co-hosted by NBC News, MSNBC, Noticias Telemundo and The Nevada Independent at the Paris Theater in Las Vegas, Nevada, on February 19, 2020.
A night of duking it out on the debate stage paid off for Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, whose campaigns both recorded the most contributions ever received on a debate day.
Warren's campaign announced early Thursday that it pulled in more than $2.8 million after the event in Las Vegas that was held just days before the state's Democratic primary caucus on Saturday.
Sanders' campaign said it raised $2.7 million from nearly 150,000 donations.
Warren and Sanders, who have built their campaigns around the promise to reduce wealth inequality, were among those who spent the night throwing jabs at former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who took to the debate stage for the first time alongside his rivals.
They accused the billionaire of buying his way into the election. Bloomberg has spent about $400 million of his personal fortune on campaign ads since joining the race in late November. Bloomberg, who doesn't take campaign donations, didn't qualify for previous debates.
The harshest blow came from Warren, who referred to Bloomberg as a "billionaire who calls women 'fat broads' and 'horse-faced lesbians.'"
"And no, I'm not talking about Donald Trump, I'm talking about Mayor Bloomberg," the Massachusetts senator said, prompting gasps from the audience.


cnbc--2020-02-20--Trump friend Roger Stone is set to be sentenced. Here's what you need to know

Stone , 67 , was convicted in November of charges linked to his false statements to a House committee about his contacts with the document disclosure group WikiLeaks during the 2016 presidential election , and his unsuccessful , crude efforts to force an associate , comedian Randy Credico , to endorse those lies .
Stone was found guilty of five counts of false statements , and one count each of obstruction of proceedings and witness tampering .
The case was one of several lodged against people in Trump 's orbit by then-special counsel Robert Mueller as part of his investigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump railed against Mueller 's probe since it began in 2017 , and continued doing so after it ended last summer .
Stone 's case remained a thorn in Trump 's side because it included evidence that suggested that Trump himself had been kept apprised by Stone of Stone 's contacts with WikiLeaks in 2016 .
WikiLeaks that year released a set of emails that had been stolen from John Podesta , the campaign chief for 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton , as well as from the Democratic National Committee .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was embarrassing to Clinton 's campaign and to the DNC , were hacked by Russian agents , the Justice Department and U.S. intelligence agencies have said .
Before Election Day , Stone tried to get the emails .
Prosecutors said Stone kept Trump 's camp aware of what he had learned about WikiLeaks ' plans for releasing the emails .
But Stone told a House committee the following year that he had no such conversations with the Trump campaign about WikiLeaks .
Trump later told Mueller in written answers to questions , `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Stone , `` nor do I recall Mr. Stone having discussed WikiLeaks with my campaign . ''
Stone , who did not testify at his trial , denied the charges .
His lawyers have asked that the judge to sentence him only to probation , with no time in jail or prison .
Credico , in a letter to Jackson last month , also asked that Stone not be sentenced to prison , despite Stone having called him `` a rat '' and `` a stoolie '' and warning him , `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not justice '' to send Stone to prison , Credico wrote the judge .
`` It is cruelty . ''
But the four prosecutors who conducted his trial asked Jackson last week to send him to prison for up to nine years , with a significant fraction of that term reflecting his threats against Credico and Credico 's dog .
That sentence would mirror the prison term of between seven and nine years recommended by federal sentencing guidelines as calculated by U.S Probation officials .
Judges are not bound by those guidelines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the suggestions of prosecutors or defense lawyers , but often take the guidelines into account when crafting a criminal sentence .
The guidelines reflect the severity of a crime , a defendant 's criminal history , and other factors , such as their role in the crime and whether or not they have accepted responsibility for their conduct .
Hours after the prosecutors made their sentencing recommendation , Trump blasted it on Twitter as excessive .
The next day , the Justice Department , under Barr 's direction , said it would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case .
Timothy Shea , the U.S. Attorney for Washington , D.C. , whose office prosecuted Stone , said in that new filing that Jackson should give him `` far less '' time in prison than what was recommended by the trial prosecutors .
Shea said in the new filing that the first proposal `` does not accurately reflect the Department of Justice 's position on what would be a reasonable sentence in this matter , '' and `` could be considered excessive and unwarranted under the circumstances . ''
Shea 's filing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , saying it would be up to Jackson to determine the `` appropriate '' punishment .
The four trial prosecutors all quit the case on the same day the new sentencing recommendation was filed , in protest of the move .
One of those prosecutors resigned altogether from the Justice Department .
In the following days , nearly 2,500 former Justice Department employees , including top prosecutors and other high-level officials , signed a letter calling Barr to resign .
`` Each of us strongly condemns President Trump 's and Attorney General Barr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justice , '' the letter said , specifically citing the Stone case .
Barr has denied that Trump 's tweets condemning the original sentencing recommendation played a role in his decision to call for a less severe prison term for Stone .
But Barr told ABC News in an interview last week that Trump 's tweeting about criminal cases is making it `` impossible for me to do my job . ''

Roger Stone, former campaign adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump, arrives for his criminal trial on charges of lying to Congress, obstructing justice and witness tampering at U.S. District Court in Washington, November 6, 2019. Tom Brenner | Reuters
Outside federal courthouse before sentencing of Roger Stone, Feb. 20, 2020, Kevin Breuninger | CNBC
Stone, 67, was convicted in November of charges linked to his false statements to a House committee about his contacts with the document disclosure group WikiLeaks during the 2016 presidential election, and his unsuccessful, crude efforts to force an associate, comedian Randy Credico, to endorse those lies. Stone was found guilty of five counts of false statements, and one count each of obstruction of proceedings and witness tampering. The case was one of several lodged against people in Trump's orbit by then-special counsel Robert Mueller as part of his investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Trump railed against Mueller's probe since it began in 2017, and continued doing so after it ended last summer. Stone's case remained a thorn in Trump's side because it included evidence that suggested that Trump himself had been kept apprised by Stone of Stone's contacts with WikiLeaks in 2016. WikiLeaks that year released a set of emails that had been stolen from John Podesta, the campaign chief for 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, as well as from the Democratic National Committee. The emails, which contained information that was embarrassing to Clinton's campaign and to the DNC, were hacked by Russian agents, the Justice Department and U.S. intelligence agencies have said. Before Election Day, Stone tried to get the emails. Prosecutors said Stone kept Trump's camp aware of what he had learned about WikiLeaks' plans for releasing the emails. But Stone told a House committee the following year that he had no such conversations with the Trump campaign about WikiLeaks. Trump later told Mueller in written answers to questions, "I do not recall discussing WikiLeaks with" Stone, "nor do I recall Mr. Stone having discussed WikiLeaks with my campaign." Stone, who did not testify at his trial, denied the charges. His lawyers have asked that the judge to sentence him only to probation, with no time in jail or prison. Credico, in a letter to Jackson last month, also asked that Stone not be sentenced to prison, despite Stone having called him "a rat" and "a stoolie" and warning him, "prepare to die." "It is not justice" to send Stone to prison, Credico wrote the judge. "It is cruelty."
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cnbc--2020-02-20--Elizabeth Warren came out swinging, and Mike Bloomberg was left battered — highlights from the Nevad

Elizabeth Warren came out swinging, and Mike Bloomberg was left battered — highlights from the Nevada Democratic debate

Just three days before the crucial Nevada caucuses , Democratic candidates took the stage in a contentious debate , firing off rounds of attacks on newcomer Mike Bloomberg .
Former Vice President Joe Biden , Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont , Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota , former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg and former New York Mayor Bloomberg spent two hours Wednesday night duking it out at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino .
It was the ninth overall debate – and the most pugnacious .
But it was the first that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign contributions and did not qualify for previous ones because he did n't meet donor thresholds .
The debate opened with Warren and Sanders , who have built their campaigns around the promise to reduce wealth inequality , throwing jabs at Bloomberg , who has spent about $ 400 million of his personal fortune on campaign ads .
since joining the race in late November .
Despite his presence at the Nevada debate , Bloomberg is not on a ballot until Super Tuesday March 3 .
Sanders maintains a lead in national polls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to a survey released Monday .
The Nevada caucuses could present an opportunity for Biden , who maintained the lead for months , to bounce back against Sanders .
However , Biden , the former front-runner , came across as mostly an afterthought in Wednesday 's debate .
He is at risk of underperforming in Nevada on Saturday and the South Carolina primary on Feb. 29 , after he flopped in Iowa and New Hampshire .
Here are the night 's top moments : Bloomberg took a beating from his rivals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The harshest attack came from Warren , who said Bloomberg was a `` billionaire who calls women 'fat broads ' and 'horse-faced lesbians . '
'' `` And no , I 'm not talking about Donald Trump , I 'm talking about Mayor Bloomberg , '' Warren said , prompting gasps from the audience .
Sanders also went after Bloomberg , saying the stop-and-frisk policing policy that Bloomberg oversaw as mayor `` went after African American and Latino people in an outrageous way .
That is not a way you are going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Sanders ' proposed `` Medicare for All '' health-care overhaul was no way to build a broad coalition .
`` You do n't start out by saying I 've got 160 million people , I 'm going to start taking away the insurance policy they love , '' he said .
`` If he goes and is the candidate , we will have Donald Trump for another four years , and we ca n't stand that . ''
The former South Bend mayor lumped together Sanders and Bloomberg , calling them `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stage . ''
`` Most Americans do n't see where they fit if they 've got to choose between a socialist who thinks capitalism is the root of all evil and a billionaire who thinks money ought to be the root of all power , '' he said .
`` Let 's put forward somebody who 's actually a Democrat , '' he added , positioning himself as the moderate between the two .
Bloomberg is a former Republican and Sanders is registered as an independent .
`` We should n't have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ burn this party down and another candidate who wants to buy this party out , '' he said .
Sanders returned fire , accusing Buttigieg of taking contributions from billionaires like Bloomberg , who has a net worth of about $ 60 billion .
`` What we are saying , Pete , is maybe it 's time for the working class of this country to have a little bit of power rather than your billionaire campaign contributors , '' he said .
Bloomberg did not respond to Buttigieg on stage .
Warren unleashed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to release women employees from nondisclosure agreements that prevent them from discussing sexual harassment and gender-based discrimination in the workplace .
Bloomberg fumbled on a defense of his reported lewd comments toward female employees , using the opportunity to call attention to the women who work for him in high-ranking positions .
Warren chimed in immediately after his response .
`` I hope you heard what his defense was : ' I 've been nice to some women . '
That just does n't cut it , '' she said , drawing gasps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gotten some number of women — dozens , who knows — to sign nondisclosure agreements both for sexual harassment and for gender discrimination in the workplace .
So Mr. Mayor , are you wiling to release all of those women from those nondisclosure agreements so we can hear their side of the story ? ''
Bloomberg responded , saying , `` We have a very few nondisclosure agreements . ''
`` How many is that ? ''
Warren interjected .
`` Let me finish .
None of them accused me of doing anything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like a joke I told , '' Bloomberg said , causing the audience to groan .
Bloomberg stumbled in response to a question about when he planned to release his tax returns .
`` It just takes us a long time , '' Bloomberg said , drawing boos from the audience .
`` Unfortunately , or fortunately , I make a lot of money and we do business all around the world , and we are preparing it .
The number of pages will probably be thousands of pages .
I ca n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I put out my tax return every year for 12 years in City Hall .
We will put out this one — it tells everybody everything they need to know about every investment that I make and where the money goes and the biggest item is all the money I give away . ''
Bloomberg is the wealthiest candidate in modern times to mount a viable campaign for president , and has so far spent more than $ 400 million on ads , despite not appearing in the first four voting contests .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ major party candidate in nearly 50 years not to release tax returns to the public .

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Just three days before the crucial Nevada caucuses, Democratic candidates took the stage in a contentious debate, firing off rounds of attacks on newcomer Mike Bloomberg. Former Vice President Joe Biden, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg and former New York Mayor Bloomberg spent two hours Wednesday night duking it out at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino. It was the ninth overall debate – and the most pugnacious. But it was the first that featured Bloomberg, who doesn't take campaign contributions and did not qualify for previous ones because he didn't meet donor thresholds. The debate opened with Warren and Sanders, who have built their campaigns around the promise to reduce wealth inequality, throwing jabs at Bloomberg, who has spent about $400 million of his personal fortune on campaign ads. since joining the race in late November. Despite his presence at the Nevada debate, Bloomberg is not on a ballot until Super Tuesday March 3. Sanders maintains a lead in national polls and held a 19-point edge in Nevada, according to a survey released Monday. The Nevada caucuses could present an opportunity for Biden, who maintained the lead for months, to bounce back against Sanders.
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However, Biden, the former front-runner, came across as mostly an afterthought in Wednesday's debate. He is at risk of underperforming in Nevada on Saturday and the South Carolina primary on Feb. 29, after he flopped in Iowa and New Hampshire. Here are the night's top moments:
Bloomberg takes an immediate beating
Democratic presidential hopeful Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders speaks during the ninth Democratic primary debate of the 2020 presidential campaign season co-hosted by NBC News, MSNBC, Noticias Telemundo and The Nevada Independent at the Paris Theater in Las Vegas, Nevada, on February 19, 2020. Mark Ralston | AFP | Getty Images
Bloomberg took a beating from his rivals on Wednesday at the very start. The harshest attack came from Warren, who said Bloomberg was a "billionaire who calls women 'fat broads' and 'horse-faced lesbians.'" "And no, I'm not talking about Donald Trump, I'm talking about Mayor Bloomberg," Warren said, prompting gasps from the audience. Sanders also went after Bloomberg, saying the stop-and-frisk policing policy that Bloomberg oversaw as mayor "went after African American and Latino people in an outrageous way. That is not a way you are going to grow voter turnout." Bloomberg responded that Sanders' proposed "Medicare for All" health-care overhaul was no way to build a broad coalition. "You don't start out by saying I've got 160 million people, I'm going to start taking away the insurance policy they love," he said. "If he goes and is the candidate, we will have Donald Trump for another four years, and we can't stand that."
Buttigieg targets Sanders and Bloomberg
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The former South Bend mayor lumped together Sanders and Bloomberg, calling them "the two most polarizing figures on this stage." "Most Americans don't see where they fit if they've got to choose between a socialist who thinks capitalism is the root of all evil and a billionaire who thinks money ought to be the root of all power," he said. "Let's put forward somebody who's actually a Democrat," he added, positioning himself as the moderate between the two. Bloomberg is a former Republican and Sanders is registered as an independent. "We shouldn't have to choose between one candidate who wants to burn this party down and another candidate who wants to buy this party out," he said. Sanders returned fire, accusing Buttigieg of taking contributions from billionaires like Bloomberg, who has a net worth of about $60 billion. "What we are saying, Pete, is maybe it's time for the working class of this country to have a little bit of power rather than your billionaire campaign contributors," he said. Bloomberg did not respond to Buttigieg on stage.
Warren tears into Bloomberg on harassment
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Warren unleashed another attack on Bloomberg, pressing him to release women employees from nondisclosure agreements that prevent them from discussing sexual harassment and gender-based discrimination in the workplace. Bloomberg fumbled on a defense of his reported lewd comments toward female employees, using the opportunity to call attention to the women who work for him in high-ranking positions. Warren chimed in immediately after his response. "I hope you heard what his defense was: 'I've been nice to some women.' That just doesn't cut it," she said, drawing gasps from the audience. "He has gotten some number of women — dozens, who knows — to sign nondisclosure agreements both for sexual harassment and for gender discrimination in the workplace. So Mr. Mayor, are you wiling to release all of those women from those nondisclosure agreements so we can hear their side of the story?" Bloomberg responded, saying, "We have a very few nondisclosure agreements." "How many is that?" Warren interjected. "Let me finish. None of them accused me of doing anything other than — maybe they didn't like a joke I told," Bloomberg said, causing the audience to groan.
Bloomberg botches tax-return question
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Bloomberg stumbled in response to a question about when he planned to release his tax returns. "It just takes us a long time," Bloomberg said, drawing boos from the audience. "Unfortunately, or fortunately, I make a lot of money and we do business all around the world, and we are preparing it. The number of pages will probably be thousands of pages. I can't go to TurboTax." "But I put out my tax return every year for 12 years in City Hall. We will put out this one — it tells everybody everything they need to know about every investment that I make and where the money goes and the biggest item is all the money I give away." Bloomberg is the wealthiest candidate in modern times to mount a viable campaign for president, and has so far spent more than $400 million on ads, despite not appearing in the first four voting contests. In 2016, Trump was the first major party candidate in nearly 50 years not to release tax returns to the public.
Bloomberg slams Sanders for being a rich socialist
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cnbc--2020-02-20--Bloomberg botches tax return question in Democratic debate: 'I can't go to TurboTax'

WASHINGTON – Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg stumbled in Wednesday night 's Democratic debate in response to a question about when he planned to release his tax returns .
`` It just takes us a long time , '' Bloomberg said .
`` Unfortunately , or fortunately , I make a lot of money and we do business all around the world , and we are preparing it .
The number of pages will probably be thousands of pages .
I ca n't go to TurboTax , '' Bloomberg added .
The remarks , which gave the impression that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drew boos from the audience in Las Vegas .
Nevada holds its Democratic caucus on Saturday .
He was already taking a beating from his rivals , including Sens .
Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders .
`` But I put out my tax return every year for 12 years in City Hall , '' he said .
`` We will put out this one , it tells everybody everything they need to know about every investment that I make and where the money goes and the biggest item is all the money I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wealthiest candidate in modern times to mount a viable campaign for president , and has so far spent more than $ 400 million of his own fortune on ads , despite not appearing on any ballots so far .
He is worth about $ 60 billion .
But the question of his taxes is one that could haunt Bloomberg if he were to be the Democratic nominee in a general election .
President Donald Trump long vowed to release his tax returns , but has yet to do so , claiming that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that prevents him from making the returns public .
In 2016 Trump was the first major party candidate in nearly 50 years not to release tax returns to the public .

WASHINGTON – Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg stumbled in Wednesday night's Democratic debate in response to a question about when he planned to release his tax returns.
"It just takes us a long time," Bloomberg said.
"Unfortunately, or fortunately, I make a lot of money and we do business all around the world, and we are preparing it. The number of pages will probably be thousands of pages. I can't go to TurboTax," Bloomberg added.
The remarks, which gave the impression that he was bragging about his wealth, drew boos from the audience in Las Vegas. Nevada holds its Democratic caucus on Saturday. He was already taking a beating from his rivals, including Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders.
"But I put out my tax return every year for 12 years in City Hall," he said. "We will put out this one, it tells everybody everything they need to know about every investment that I make and where the money goes and the biggest item is all the money I give away."
Bloomberg is the wealthiest candidate in modern times to mount a viable campaign for president, and has so far spent more than $400 million of his own fortune on ads, despite not appearing on any ballots so far. He is worth about $60 billion.
But the question of his taxes is one that could haunt Bloomberg if he were to be the Democratic nominee in a general election. President Donald Trump long vowed to release his tax returns, but has yet to do so, claiming that he is under a constant state of audit that prevents him from making the returns public.
In 2016 Trump was the first major party candidate in nearly 50 years not to release tax returns to the public.


cnbc--2020-02-20--Pete Buttigieg turns fire on 'socialist' Bernie Sanders amid Bloomberg pile-on

As the Democrats on the debate stage in Las Vegas on Wednesday night took aim at ascending candidate Mike Bloomberg , former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg saved a bit of fire for the new leader in the pack , Sen. Bernie Sanders .
`` How are we going to possibly fix our economy if the choice is between a socialist who thinks capitalism is the root of all evil and somebody who believes money is the root of all power ? ''
Buttigieg said , referencing Bloomberg and Sanders , respectively .
`` We could wake up in two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Super Tuesday , and the only candidates left standing will be Bernie Sanders and Mike Bloomberg , the two most polarizing figures on this stage .
...
Lets put forward somebody 's who 's actually a Democrat . ''
Bloomberg is a former Republican and independent .
Sanders , meantime , describes himself as a democratic socialist and supports plans like `` Medicare for All '' that veer left of more moderate candidates like Buttigieg .
`` If speaking to the needs and the pain of the long-neglected working class is polarizing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ word , '' Sanders fired back .
`` Maybe it 's time for the working class to have a little bit of power in Washington rather than your billionaire campaign contributors . ''
Buttigieg responded that his campaign is fueled by `` hundreds of thousands of contributors , '' teeing it up for Sanders to retort , `` including 46 billionaires . ''
Buttigieg has gotten criticism for his billionaire donor base and flashy fundraising events , like his now infamous billionaire wine cave fundraiser .

As the Democrats on the debate stage in Las Vegas on Wednesday night took aim at ascending candidate Mike Bloomberg, former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg saved a bit of fire for the new leader in the pack, Sen. Bernie Sanders.
"How are we going to possibly fix our economy if the choice is between a socialist who thinks capitalism is the root of all evil and somebody who believes money is the root of all power?" Buttigieg said, referencing Bloomberg and Sanders, respectively.
"We could wake up in two weeks from today, the day after Super Tuesday, and the only candidates left standing will be Bernie Sanders and Mike Bloomberg, the two most polarizing figures on this stage. ... Lets put forward somebody's who's actually a Democrat."
Bloomberg is a former Republican and independent. Sanders, meantime, describes himself as a democratic socialist and supports plans like "Medicare for All" that veer left of more moderate candidates like Buttigieg.
"If speaking to the needs and the pain of the long-neglected working class is polarizing, I think you've got the wrong word," Sanders fired back. "Maybe it's time for the working class to have a little bit of power in Washington rather than your billionaire campaign contributors."
Buttigieg responded that his campaign is fueled by "hundreds of thousands of contributors," teeing it up for Sanders to retort, "including 46 billionaires."
Buttigieg has gotten criticism for his billionaire donor base and flashy fundraising events, like his now infamous billionaire wine cave fundraiser.


cnbc--2020-02-20--Mike Bloomberg takes a beating at Democratic debate as Elizabeth Warren leads the attack

LAS VEGAS – Former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg took a beating from his rivals on Wednesday from the very start of his first appearance on a Democratic debate stage .
All of the five Democrats standing beside him jumped on their first opportunity to go after the billionaire , who has been dropping hundreds of millions of dollars on advertisements fueling his presidential bid in recent months .
The jabs , which had been telegraphed for days , zeroed in on Bloomberg 's record on race as mayor of New York , as well as alleged instances of sexual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bloomberg LP .
Read more : Bloomberg botches tax return question in Democratic debate : ' I ca n't go to TurboTax' The harshest attacks came from Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts , who said that Bloomberg was a `` billionaire who calls women 'fat broads ' and 'horse-faced lesbians . ''
`` And no , I 'm not talking about Donald Trump , I 'm talking about Mayor Bloomberg , '' Warren said , prompting gasps from the audience .
Warren , who has been declining in recent national and state polls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` if we have a nominee who has a history of hiding his tax returns , of harassing women , and of supporting racist policies like redlining and stop-and-frisk . ''
`` Democrats take a huge risk if we just substitute one arrogant billionaire for another , '' Warren said .
Warren noted that she will support whoever is the nominee .

LAS VEGAS – Former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg took a beating from his rivals on Wednesday from the very start of his first appearance on a Democratic debate stage.
All of the five Democrats standing beside him jumped on their first opportunity to go after the billionaire, who has been dropping hundreds of millions of dollars on advertisements fueling his presidential bid in recent months.
The jabs, which had been telegraphed for days, zeroed in on Bloomberg's record on race as mayor of New York, as well as alleged instances of sexual harassment against employees of his flagship business Bloomberg LP.
Read more: Bloomberg botches tax return question in Democratic debate: 'I can't go to TurboTax'
The harshest attacks came from Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, who said that Bloomberg was a "billionaire who calls women 'fat broads' and 'horse-faced lesbians."
"And no, I'm not talking about Donald Trump, I'm talking about Mayor Bloomberg," Warren said, prompting gasps from the audience.
Warren, who has been declining in recent national and state polls, said that Democrats will not win "if we have a nominee who has a history of hiding his tax returns, of harassing women, and of supporting racist policies like redlining and stop-and-frisk."
"Democrats take a huge risk if we just substitute one arrogant billionaire for another," Warren said. Warren noted that she will support whoever is the nominee.


cnbc--2020-02-19--Several Joe Biden fundraisers jump ship from his struggling campaign to back Mike Bloomberg

Key fundraisers are jumping ship from Joe Biden 's struggling presidential campaign to instead support Mike Bloomberg 's ascending candidacy .
The development comes amid growing concerns within Biden 's affluent donor network that the former vice president is struggling to convince voters that he can defeat Sen. Bernie Sanders , a self-described democratic socialist , for the Democratic nomination .
The financiers are also impressed with Bloomberg 's self-funded operation .
Jon Henes , a partner at the law firm Kirkland & Ellis , has signaled to friends that he is shifting his allegiance from Biden 's campaign to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump , according to people with direct knowledge of the matter , who declined to be named as these decisions were made in private .
Henes is one of close to a dozen other Biden fundraisers who have already decided to move toward Bloomberg , these people added .
The financiers moving from Biden to Bloomberg also understand they wo n't have to shell out money or hold fundraisers to directly support the former New York mayor 's campaign .
Bloomberg 's business surrogates who are on the `` Committee for Mike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their networks to vote for him , appear at events and potentially attend briefings with Bloomberg himself .
Several financial executives who have been helping Biden have also started to meet with and reach out to the Bloomberg campaign to get a feel for the operation .
`` Bloomberg is running a great campaign , hiring incredible people and building an impressive field operation across the country , '' said a Wall Street Biden supporter who recently met with Bloomberg but declined to be named .
`` Also spending essentially unlimited money and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an impressive increase in the polls . ''
Another investor noted that Biden 's backers are preparing to move toward Bloomberg if the former vice president does n't score a dominant win in the Feb. 29 South Carolina primary .
Biden has been the polling leader in the state for much of the campaign , and his organization has projected confidence in his strength there .
The candidate left New Hampshire early the day of the primary to rally in South Carolina .
`` I think everyone will move over after South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Representatives for Biden and Bloomberg did not return a request for comment .
Henes and Karp also did not return calls for comment .
Beyond the battle for prominent behind-the-scenes supporters , Bloomberg and Biden are on a collision course in the Wednesday debate .
Biden has started calling for more scrutiny of Bloomberg 's record as mayor of New York , with a particular focus on the controversial stop-and-frisk policy .
It allowed the New York Police Department to randomly stop , search and frisk people .
People in black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Bloomberg apologized for the policy before he announced his presidential run .
Bloomberg 's campaign , meanwhile , has started to paint Biden as someone who lost his footing after a strong start to the campaign .
During a briefing with reporters on Tuesday , Bloomberg strategist Dan Kanninen said they only see Sanders as the only Democrat who could get in their way to the nomination .
Bloomberg and Biden continued taking jabs at each other through digital ads on the day of the debate .

Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks during a campaign event at Sun City Macdonald Ranch February 14, 2020 in Henderson, Nevada. Alex Wong | Getty Images
Key fundraisers are jumping ship from Joe Biden's struggling presidential campaign to instead support Mike Bloomberg's ascending candidacy. The development comes amid growing concerns within Biden's affluent donor network that the former vice president is struggling to convince voters that he can defeat Sen. Bernie Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, for the Democratic nomination. The financiers are also impressed with Bloomberg's self-funded operation. Jon Henes, a partner at the law firm Kirkland & Ellis, has signaled to friends that he is shifting his allegiance from Biden's campaign to Bloomberg's bid to take on President Donald Trump, according to people with direct knowledge of the matter, who declined to be named as these decisions were made in private. Henes is one of close to a dozen other Biden fundraisers who have already decided to move toward Bloomberg, these people added.
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The financiers moving from Biden to Bloomberg also understand they won't have to shell out money or hold fundraisers to directly support the former New York mayor's campaign. Bloomberg's business surrogates who are on the "Committee for Mike" have only been asked to encourage their networks to vote for him, appear at events and potentially attend briefings with Bloomberg himself. Several financial executives who have been helping Biden have also started to meet with and reach out to the Bloomberg campaign to get a feel for the operation. "Bloomberg is running a great campaign, hiring incredible people and building an impressive field operation across the country," said a Wall Street Biden supporter who recently met with Bloomberg but declined to be named. "Also spending essentially unlimited money and we're seeing all of that result in an impressive increase in the polls." Another investor noted that Biden's backers are preparing to move toward Bloomberg if the former vice president doesn't score a dominant win in the Feb. 29 South Carolina primary. Biden has been the polling leader in the state for much of the campaign, and his organization has projected confidence in his strength there. The candidate left New Hampshire early the day of the primary to rally in South Carolina. "I think everyone will move over after South Carolina," this lead Biden fundraiser said. Representatives for Biden and Bloomberg did not return a request for comment. Henes and Karp also did not return calls for comment. Beyond the battle for prominent behind-the-scenes supporters, Bloomberg and Biden are on a collision course in the Wednesday debate. Biden has started calling for more scrutiny of Bloomberg's record as mayor of New York, with a particular focus on the controversial stop-and-frisk policy. It allowed the New York Police Department to randomly stop, search and frisk people. People in black and Latino communities were most routinely targeted. Bloomberg apologized for the policy before he announced his presidential run. Bloomberg's campaign, meanwhile, has started to paint Biden as someone who lost his footing after a strong start to the campaign. During a briefing with reporters on Tuesday, Bloomberg strategist Dan Kanninen said they only see Sanders as the only Democrat who could get in their way to the nomination. Bloomberg and Biden continued taking jabs at each other through digital ads on the day of the debate. Tweet:


cnbc--2020-02-20--Trump offered WikiLeaks' Julian Assange a pardon if he covered up Russian hacking of Democrats, lawy

Trump offered WikiLeaks' Julian Assange a pardon if he covered up Russian hacking of Democrats, lawyer tells court

The congressman also said at the time that he had information to share privately with Trump .
In a statement posted to his website Wednesday , Rohrabacher said he did n't offer a deal on Trump 's behalf .
`` At no time did I offer Julian Assange anything from the President because I had not spoken with the President about this issue at all .
However , when speaking with Julian Assange , I told him that if he could provide me information and evidence about who actually gave him the DNC emails , I would then call on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the former congressman said .
`` At no time did I offer a deal made by the President , nor did I say I was representing the President . ''
Yet Rohrabacher also said he met with then-White House chief of staff John Kelly and told him that Assange would provide information about the DNC hack in exchange for a pardon , but said no one from the White House followed up with him on the offer .
In his statement , Rohrabacher also called on Trump to pardon Assange , whom he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time . ''
Neither CNBC nor NBC News has the full statement made by Assange 's lawyer in court .
The formal extradition hearing for Assange , an Australian national , is due to begin Monday .
At Wednesday 's court session , District Judge Vanessa Baraitser reportedly said the evidence about a purported pardon offer is admissible at that hearing .
White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham , when asked about the claim of a pardon offer by Trump , said , `` The President barely knows Dana Rohrabacher other than he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's never spoken to him on this subject or almost any subject .
It is a complete fabrication and a total lie , '' Grisham said .
`` This is probably another never ending hoax and total lie from the DNC . ''
Trump in a November 2018 tweet called Rohrabacher `` a great Congressman for his district , '' who `` works hard and is respected by all . ''
WikiLeaks , in two tweets after Wednesday 's hearing , seemed to confirm that a presidential pardon had been offered to Assange @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came 10 months `` after Julian Assange had already independently stated that Russia was not the source of the DNC publication . ''
WikiLeaks also said `` the meeting and the offer were made prior to Assange 's indictment . ''
Rohrabacher did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the claims made by Assange 's lawyers .
Assange 's attorneys did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
The Justice Department has said that Russian agents hacked emails from the DNC and from John Podesta , the campaign chairman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in 2016 .
Those emails later were released during the campaign by WikiLeaks , which specializes in publicizing classified and otherwise secret documents .
The emails were seen as damaging to Clinton 's candidacy .
Former FBI director Robert Mueller , who as special counsel investigated Russian interference in the 2016 election , in his report on the probe last year said that members of Trump 's campaign had a series of contacts with WikiLeaks and people related to its operation about the Clinton campaign emails .
Trump told Mueller in written @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not recall being aware '' of any communications between WikiLeaks and his campaign .
Republican operative Roger Stone , a friend and former advisor of Trump 's , is due to be sentenced Thursday in federal court in Washington , D.C. , for charges that relate to his lying to Congress about his contacts with WikiLeaks during the 2016 election .
Assange , who is a co-founder of WikiLeaks , was charged last May by U.S. authorities with conspiring with former Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to obtain and publish secret documents , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ identities of foreigners who were aiding the U.S. military abroad .
Assange is currently in British custody after having been expelled from Ecuador 's embassy in London , where he had lived for nearly seven years .
Federal authorities want Assange to be extradited to the U.S. in order to face charges .
Assange had first sought asylum at the Ecuadorean embassy in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden , where he was accused of sexual assault .
But he remained in the embassy for years , in part due to fears that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of American authorities for his work obtaining and publishing classified documents .

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange arrives at court in London on May 1, 2019 to be sentenced for bail violation. Daniel Leal-Olivas | AFP | Getty Images
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The congressman also said at the time that he had information to share privately with Trump. In a statement posted to his website Wednesday, Rohrabacher said he didn't offer a deal on Trump's behalf. "At no time did I offer Julian Assange anything from the President because I had not spoken with the President about this issue at all. However, when speaking with Julian Assange, I told him that if he could provide me information and evidence about who actually gave him the DNC emails, I would then call on President Trump to pardon him," the former congressman said. "At no time did I offer a deal made by the President, nor did I say I was representing the President." Yet Rohrabacher also said he met with then-White House chief of staff John Kelly and told him that Assange would provide information about the DNC hack in exchange for a pardon, but said no one from the White House followed up with him on the offer.
In his statement, Rohrabacher also called on Trump to pardon Assange, whom he called "the true whistleblower of our time." Neither CNBC nor NBC News has the full statement made by Assange's lawyer in court. The formal extradition hearing for Assange, an Australian national, is due to begin Monday. At Wednesday's court session, District Judge Vanessa Baraitser reportedly said the evidence about a purported pardon offer is admissible at that hearing. White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham, when asked about the claim of a pardon offer by Trump, said, "The President barely knows Dana Rohrabacher other than he's an ex-congressman." "He's never spoken to him on this subject or almost any subject. It is a complete fabrication and a total lie," Grisham said. "This is probably another never ending hoax and total lie from the DNC." Trump in a November 2018 tweet called Rohrabacher "a great Congressman for his district," who "works hard and is respected by all." Tweet Tweet WikiLeaks, in two tweets after Wednesday's hearing, seemed to confirm that a presidential pardon had been offered to Assange, but also said that the offer came 10 months "after Julian Assange had already independently stated that Russia was not the source of the DNC publication." WikiLeaks also said "the meeting and the offer were made prior to Assange's indictment." Tweet Tweet Rohrabacher did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the claims made by Assange's lawyers. Assange's attorneys did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Justice Department has said that Russian agents hacked emails from the DNC and from John Podesta, the campaign chairman for 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, in 2016.
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cnbc--2020-02-20--Trump names Ambassador Richard Grenell acting director of national intelligence

U.S. envoy for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue , Richard Grenell speaks during a joint press conference held with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic ( not seen ) following their meeting in Belgrade , Serbia on January 24 , 2020 .
President Donald Trump on Wednesday named U.S .
Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell , a fierce defender of the administration 's policies , acting director of national intelligence .
The move would make Grenell the head of the U.S. intelligence community , overseeing 17 agencies and organizations .
`` I am pleased to announce that our highly respected Ambassador to Germany , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Director of National Intelligence , '' Trump said in a tweet Wednesday .
`` Rick has represented our Country exceedingly well and I look forward to working with him . ''
He will take over for Joseph Maguire , who has been in the role since the resignation of Dan Coats last summer .
His nomination represents the elevation of another Trump loyalist to the top tier of the administration .
`` He is committed to a non-political , non-partisan approach as head of the Intelligence Community , on which our safety and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Secretary Stephanie Grisham said in a statement .
`` The President has every confidence that Ambassador Grenell will perform his new duties with distinction . ''
Grenell has been heavily criticized for his controversial opinions on Twitter about women , including 2016 Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton and MSNBC 's Rachel Maddow .
Grenell is also openly gay and has also used his ambassador role to push for gay rights across the globe .
Grenell has also been a vocal opponent of Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei .
The U.S. has maintained that China 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that its networking equipment could be used by Beijing for espionage on American citizens .
Huawei has repeatedly denied those claims .
On Sunday , Grenell tweeted that Trump had called him and instructed him to `` make clear that any nation who chooses to use an untrustworthy 5G vendor will jeopardize our ability to share intelligence and information at the highest level . ''

U.S. envoy for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Richard Grenell speaks during a joint press conference held with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic (not seen) following their meeting in Belgrade, Serbia on January 24, 2020.
President Donald Trump on Wednesday named U.S. Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell, a fierce defender of the administration's policies, acting director of national intelligence.
The move would make Grenell the head of the U.S. intelligence community, overseeing 17 agencies and organizations.
"I am pleased to announce that our highly respected Ambassador to Germany, Richard Grenell, will become the Acting Director of National Intelligence," Trump said in a tweet Wednesday.
"Rick has represented our Country exceedingly well and I look forward to working with him."
Trump tweet
Trump tweet two
He will take over for Joseph Maguire, who has been in the role since the resignation of Dan Coats last summer.
His nomination represents the elevation of another Trump loyalist to the top tier of the administration.
"He is committed to a non-political, non-partisan approach as head of the Intelligence Community, on which our safety and security depend," White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham said in a statement. "The President has every confidence that Ambassador Grenell will perform his new duties with distinction."
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi criticized the decision to appoint Grenell, saying "Trump has once again put his political interests ahead of American's national security interests."
Trump "has shown his contempt for our Constitution's system of checks and balances by sidestepping the Senate's constitutional authority of confirmation with the installation of another Acting official that he knows cannot be confirmed even in a Republican-controlled Senate," Pelosi said. Grenell was nominating in an acting capacity, meaning that his role will not be confirmed by the Senate.
Grenell has been heavily criticized for his controversial opinions on Twitter about women, including 2016 Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton and MSNBC's Rachel Maddow. Grenell is also openly gay and has also used his ambassador role to push for gay rights across the globe.
Grenell has also been a vocal opponent of Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei. The U.S. has maintained that China's Huawei is a national security risk and that its networking equipment could be used by Beijing for espionage on American citizens. Huawei has repeatedly denied those claims.
On Sunday, Grenell tweeted that Trump had called him and instructed him to "make clear that any nation who chooses to use an untrustworthy 5G vendor will jeopardize our ability to share intelligence and information at the highest level."


cnbc--2020-02-19--Trump tweets Justice Department criticism despite Attorney General Barr's threat to quit

President Donald Trump on Wednesday retweeted claims that he is `` the victim '' of a Justice Department conspiracy , hours after reports that the department 's chief official has threatened to quit if the president continues such criticism .
A tweet Trump promoted to his nearly 73 million followers also said that Attorney General William `` Barr should clean house '' at the Justice Department — and argued that Trump `` can also appoint a special counsel directly '' to investigate the purported conspiracy against him .
That tweet was first posted by Tom Fitton , president of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ included a link to a more than eight-minute-long appearance by Fitton on Fox News .
Trump soon afterward retweeted another post by Fitton , who said Judicial Watch is `` doing the heavy lifting exposing the worst corruption scandal in American history . ''
That post referenced so-called astonishing emails that show former Justice Department official Rod Rosenstein `` had many Obama/Clinton and media friends '' supporting him when he `` infamously appointed '' former FBI Director Robert Mueller as special counsel .
Trump 's retweets Wednesday morning came after reports on Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ head of the Justice Department — has told people close to the president that he might resign if Trump does not stop making public comments about cases lodged by federal prosecutors who report to the attorney general .
A Justice Department spokeswoman said later Tuesday that Barr has no plans to resign .
White House spokesman Hogan Gidley said Wednesday that Trump `` has a right to make his opinion known . ''
Trump has raged since early in his presidency about the investigation by the Justice Department and FBI into Russian interference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won , and contacts by Trump campaign officials and others affiliated with the president with Russians during and before the campaign .
Mueller took over that probe as special counsel in 2017 .
Trump is said to be furious that the Justice Department last week decided not to pursue criminal charges against Andrew McCabe , a former FBI deputy director , who had been under investigation for allegedly misleading investigators about leaks to journalists related to a probe of 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton .
Trump has repeatedly blamed McCabe , along @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for what the president has called a baseless investigation into Russian election meddling .
On Tuesday , Trump told reporters that `` I 'm actually , I guess , the chief law enforcement officer of the country . ''
`` But I 've chosen not to be involved , '' the president added .
Barr last week , in an ABC News interview , said that Trump 's tweets about federal criminal cases , including ones targeting people connected to the president , are making it `` impossible for me to do my @ @ @

President Donald J. Trump and US Attorney General William Barr depart after delivering remarks on citizenship and the census in the Rose Garden at the White House on Thursday, July 11th, 2019 in Washington, DC. Jabin Botsford | The Washington Post | Getty Images
Your move, Mr. Attorney General. President Donald Trump on Wednesday retweeted claims that he is "the victim" of a Justice Department conspiracy, hours after reports that the department's chief official has threatened to quit if the president continues such criticism. A tweet Trump promoted to his nearly 73 million followers also said that Attorney General William "Barr should clean house" at the Justice Department — and argued that Trump "can also appoint a special counsel directly" to investigate the purported conspiracy against him. Tweet That tweet was first posted by Tom Fitton, president of the right-wing advocacy group Judicial Watch, and included a link to a more than eight-minute-long appearance by Fitton on Fox News. Trump soon afterward retweeted another post by Fitton, who said Judicial Watch is "doing the heavy lifting exposing the worst corruption scandal in American history."
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That post referenced so-called astonishing emails that show former Justice Department official Rod Rosenstein "had many Obama/Clinton and media friends" supporting him when he "infamously appointed" former FBI Director Robert Mueller as special counsel. Tweet2 Trump's retweets Wednesday morning came after reports on Tuesday night that Barr — who is the head of the Justice Department — has told people close to the president that he might resign if Trump does not stop making public comments about cases lodged by federal prosecutors who report to the attorney general. A Justice Department spokeswoman said later Tuesday that Barr has no plans to resign. White House spokesman Hogan Gidley said Wednesday that Trump "has a right to make his opinion known." Trump has raged since early in his presidency about the investigation by the Justice Department and FBI into Russian interference in the 2016 election, which Trump won, and contacts by Trump campaign officials and others affiliated with the president with Russians during and before the campaign. Mueller took over that probe as special counsel in 2017. Trump is said to be furious that the Justice Department last week decided not to pursue criminal charges against Andrew McCabe, a former FBI deputy director, who had been under investigation for allegedly misleading investigators about leaks to journalists related to a probe of 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.
Trump has repeatedly blamed McCabe, along with former FBI Director James Comey, for what the president has called a baseless investigation into Russian election meddling. On Tuesday, Trump told reporters that "I'm actually, I guess, the chief law enforcement officer of the country." "But I've chosen not to be involved," the president added. Barr last week, in an ABC News interview, said that Trump's tweets about federal criminal cases, including ones targeting people connected to the president, are making it "impossible for me to do my job."
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cnbc--2020-02-20--Democratic debate: Bloomberg takes the stage as Sanders leads, and Biden aims for a comeback

LAS VEGAS — Prolific personal spending on TV ads has already helped make former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg a familiar face in the race to take on President Donald Trump in November .
Now , the billionaire financier and media mogul is a new presence on the Democratic debate stage .
On Wednesday night , Bloomberg was set to come under fire from repeat players in the televised slugfests , like Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and former Vice President Joe Biden , for spending more than $ 400 million so far on campaign ads alone .
The debate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Casino kicked off at 9 p.m .
ET and is expected to last about two hours .
It will air on NBC and MSNBC , and will stream on NBC News Now .
It is being hosted by NBC News , MSNBC , Noticias Telemundo and The Nevada Independent .
Sanders began with attacks on Bloomberg , saying his past support for policies like stop-and-frisk would hurt turnout in November .
`` I do n't think there 's any chance for the senator to beat Donald Trump , '' Bloomberg responded .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will have Donald Trump for another four years . ''
The debate comes at a crucial juncture in the primary sorting process , just three days before Nevada 's first-in-the-West caucuses .
The Nevada contests have proven in the past to be a crucible for the contenders who remain following the first states of Iowa and New Hampshire , testing the candidates for the first time in how they appeal to minority voters and other blocs that are crucial to winning the nomination .
In addition to Bloomberg , Sanders and Biden , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the debate stage are former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Sens .
Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts .
Each of the candidates has something different to prove .
Biden , who failed to take a top three spot in either Iowa or New Hampshire after coasting for months as the race 's presumed front-runner , is relying on beating expectations in Nevada to power his campaign through Super Tuesday March 3 .
Sanders is hoping that doing well with Hispanic and young voters in Nevada @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He will also have to fend off new attacks on his signature health-care overhaul , `` Medicare for All , '' after it came under criticism from Nevada 's politically influential Culinary Union .
Buttigieg has risen sharply in national polling after effectively tying with Sanders in Iowa and taking second place in New Hampshire .
But he has struggled to gain traction among black and Hispanic voters — crucial voting segments in Nevada .
Warren has seen her support dip in national polls after Sanders ' strong showings in the first two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the party 's progressive base , Warren is seeking to cast herself as a party unifier who can bring together left-leaning liberals and centrist moderates .
Klobuchar , the race 's underdog , got a jolt of energy from a surprising third-place finish in New Hampshire .
But , like Buttigieg , she has lagged among minority voters and must prove that her campaign can attract their support and flesh out the organizational finesse of the more established contenders .
Bloomberg , meanwhile , who has not appeared before on the Democratic debate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , will have to prove that he belongs there .
Bloomberg is not competing in the first four nominating contests , including Nevada and the Feb. 29 South Carolina primary , instead devoting resources to the larger states that begin voting on Super Tuesday , including the biggest prizes : California and Texas .
Sanders and Warren have accused Bloomberg of trying to buy the 2020 election , while Buttigieg , Biden and Klobuchar have said they look forward to seeing him answer tough questions about his record in front of a national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MSNBC that Bloomberg `` can buy every ad he wants , but he ca n't , in fact , wipe away his record on everything from dealing with stop-and-frisk to his foreign policy assertions and the like . ''
Warren , in a tweet , said it was a `` shame '' Bloomberg could `` buy his way into the debate .
But at least now primary voters curious about how each candidate will take on Donald Trump can get a live demonstration of how we each take on an egomaniac billionaire .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ net worth of more than $ 60 billion , is self-funding his entire campaign and is not accepting any outside contributions .
He is polling in third place in national surveys behind Sanders and Biden .

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LAS VEGAS — Prolific personal spending on TV ads has already helped make former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg a familiar face in the race to take on President Donald Trump in November. Now, the billionaire financier and media mogul is a new presence on the Democratic debate stage. On Wednesday night, Bloomberg was set to come under fire from repeat players in the televised slugfests, like Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and former Vice President Joe Biden, for spending more than $400 million so far on campaign ads alone. Watch the Democratic debate here. The debate at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino kicked off at 9 p.m. ET and is expected to last about two hours. It will air on NBC and MSNBC, and will stream on NBC News Now. It is being hosted by NBC News, MSNBC, Noticias Telemundo and The Nevada Independent. Sanders began with attacks on Bloomberg, saying his past support for policies like stop-and-frisk would hurt turnout in November. "I don't think there's any chance for the senator to beat Donald Trump," Bloomberg responded. "If he is the candidate, we will have Donald Trump for another four years."
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The debate comes at a crucial juncture in the primary sorting process, just three days before Nevada's first-in-the-West caucuses. The Nevada contests have proven in the past to be a crucible for the contenders who remain following the first states of Iowa and New Hampshire, testing the candidates for the first time in how they appeal to minority voters and other blocs that are crucial to winning the nomination. In addition to Bloomberg, Sanders and Biden, the other candidates who will appear on the debate stage are former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Sens. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts. Each of the candidates has something different to prove. Biden, who failed to take a top three spot in either Iowa or New Hampshire after coasting for months as the race's presumed front-runner, is relying on beating expectations in Nevada to power his campaign through Super Tuesday March 3. Sanders is hoping that doing well with Hispanic and young voters in Nevada can solidify his newfound front-runner status. He will also have to fend off new attacks on his signature health-care overhaul, "Medicare for All," after it came under criticism from Nevada's politically influential Culinary Union. Buttigieg has risen sharply in national polling after effectively tying with Sanders in Iowa and taking second place in New Hampshire. But he has struggled to gain traction among black and Hispanic voters — crucial voting segments in Nevada. Warren has seen her support dip in national polls after Sanders' strong showings in the first two states. As Sanders looks to consolidate the party's progressive base, Warren is seeking to cast herself as a party unifier who can bring together left-leaning liberals and centrist moderates. Klobuchar, the race's underdog, got a jolt of energy from a surprising third-place finish in New Hampshire. But, like Buttigieg, she has lagged among minority voters and must prove that her campaign can attract their support and flesh out the organizational finesse of the more established contenders.
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cnbc--2020-02-19--US condemns China for revoking Wall Street Journal reporters' press credentials

A paramilitary police officer wearing a protective facemasks to help stop the spread of a deadly SARS-like virus which originated in the central city of Wuhan , stand on guard in front of the portrait of late communist leader Mao Zedong at Tiananmen Gate in Beijing on January 28 , 2020 .
The U.S. on Wednesday condemned China 's decision to revoke the press credentials of three Wall Street Journal reporters based in Beijing .
`` Mature , responsible countries understand that a free press reports facts and expresses opinions , '' Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to present counter arguments , not restrict speech . ''
`` The United States hopes that the Chinese people will enjoy the same access to accurate information and freedom of speech that Americans enjoy , '' Pompeo said .
The reporters were expelled after outrage in China over a recent opinion piece printed in the Journal , Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said during a news briefing earlier Wednesday .
`` Chinese people do not welcome media that publish racially discriminatory and malicious slander on China , '' the spokesman said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ has decided to revoke the press cards of the three Wall Street Journal correspondents in Beijing starting today . ''
The spokesman identified the piece as a Feb. 3 opinion column by Walter Russell Mead , the headline of which criticized China as `` the Real Sick Man of Asia . ''
The move marks the first time since the era of Mao Zedong that China has expelled multiple journalists from one international news organization simultaneously , according to the Journal .
The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not respond to CNBC 's request @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Dow Jones , the Journal 's publisher and a unit of News Corp. , said in a statement that `` we regret '' the anger that Mead 's headline stoked in China .
`` It was not our intention to cause offense with the headline on the piece , '' Lewis said .
Mead is a Bard College professor and a scholar at the Hudson Institute .
But , he added , `` today 's decision to target our News department journalists greatly hinders '' efforts to meaningfully cover the news from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China 's Foreign Ministry reinstate the visas '' for the three journalists , Lewis said .

A paramilitary police officer wearing a protective facemasks to help stop the spread of a deadly SARS-like virus which originated in the central city of Wuhan, stand on guard in front of the portrait of late communist leader Mao Zedong at Tiananmen Gate in Beijing on January 28, 2020.
The U.S. on Wednesday condemned China's decision to revoke the press credentials of three Wall Street Journal reporters based in Beijing.
"Mature, responsible countries understand that a free press reports facts and expresses opinions," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement. "The correct response is to present counter arguments, not restrict speech."
"The United States hopes that the Chinese people will enjoy the same access to accurate information and freedom of speech that Americans enjoy," Pompeo said.
The reporters were expelled after outrage in China over a recent opinion piece printed in the Journal, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said during a news briefing earlier Wednesday.
"Chinese people do not welcome media that publish racially discriminatory and malicious slander on China," the spokesman said. "In light of this, China has decided to revoke the press cards of the three Wall Street Journal correspondents in Beijing starting today."
The spokesman identified the piece as a Feb. 3 opinion column by Walter Russell Mead, the headline of which criticized China as "the Real Sick Man of Asia."
The move marks the first time since the era of Mao Zedong that China has expelled multiple journalists from one international news organization simultaneously, according to the Journal.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not respond to CNBC's request for comment.
William Lewis, CEO of Dow Jones, the Journal's publisher and a unit of News Corp. , said in a statement that "we regret" the anger that Mead's headline stoked in China. "It was not our intention to cause offense with the headline on the piece," Lewis said. Mead is a Bard College professor and a scholar at the Hudson Institute.
But, he added, "today's decision to target our News department journalists greatly hinders" efforts to meaningfully cover the news from China.
"We respectfully request that China's Foreign Ministry reinstate the visas" for the three journalists, Lewis said.


cnbc--2020-02-20--Sanders leads by double digits in latest NBC/WSJ poll as Biden sinks, Bloomberg rises

WASHINGTON — Bernie Sanders has opened up a double-digit lead nationally over his closest rivals in the Democratic presidential primary , where Michael Bloomberg 's rise appears to have scrambled the race , according to an NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll released Tuesday .
The Vermont senator has the support of 27 % of Democratic primary voters , a figure which is unchanged from January , the survey found .
Sanders ' unchanged support comes despite having won a decisive victory in New Hampshire 's first-in-the-nation primary last week , and an apparent win in Iowa 's chaotic caucuses the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the NBC/WSJ results for support among likely Democratic primary voters , followed by the shift in support since the poll was last conducted in January .
• Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg : 14 % , up 5 pts Twelve points behind Sanders is former Vice President Joe Biden , whose support in the poll has plummeted to 15 % in the past month , down from a previous figure of 26 % .
Following closely behind Biden is the billionaire former mayor of New York City , with 14 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Warren , D-Mass .
During the past month , Bloomberg has climbed 5 points in the poll , a rise fueled in part by Bloomberg 's decision to spend more than $ 400 million on a barrage of national TV and internet ads .
Warren 's support , meanwhile , has fallen 4 points nationally since December .
Behind Warren and Bloomberg , former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg grew his national support to 13 % in February , up 5 points from the previous NBC/WSJ poll .
Sanders ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4.7 point margin of error of the new survey , which was conducted between Feb 14-17 on a sample size of 900 registered voters .
Preliminary analysis of the results indicates that the biggest beneficiaries of Biden 's tumbling numbers were Bloomberg and Buttigieg , both moderates who are working hard to offer voters an alternative to the stridently progressive message coming from Sanders .
Bloomberg will be making his first appearance on the Democratic primary debate stage this week in Nevada , despite the fact that his is not competing in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New Hampshire , Nevada and South Carolina .
Instead , Bloomberg has focused on Texas and other states that vote on Super Tuesday , March 3 .
His ads , however , appear to have made an impression : In January , 59 % of poll respondents said they remember seeing an ad from Bloomberg on TV or social media .
The survey also measured comfort levels among voters with certain qualities in a presidential candidate for the first time this month .
These include a candidate `` who self-funds their campaign with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own money '' and a candidate who `` is a socialist . ''
Among Democratic primary voters , just 16 % said they would be `` very uncomfortable '' voting for a candidate who used his or her personal fortune to fund their campaign .
Among registered voters of both parties , the survey found the same number , 16 % , reported they would be `` very uncomfortable '' voting for a self-funded candidate .
But on the question of whether they would be comfortable voting for `` a socialist , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all registered voters was a stark one .
Only 17 % of Democratic primary voters said they would be `` very uncomfortable '' casting their ballot for a socialist .
But when interviewers posed the same question to all registered voters , not just Democrats , this `` uncomfortable '' number more than doubled , to 46 % of respondents saying they 'd be `` very uncomfortable '' voting for a socialist .
Sanders is a self-described democratic socialist , a position he describes as being primarily concerned with correcting economic inequality .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he 's an independent senator who caucuses with Democrats .
If Sanders continues to dominate the Democratic primary field , these distinctions could begin to make a big difference in Sanders ' long-term prospects for the presidency .

Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders laughs as he addresses supporters during a campaign stop at a coffee chop in Iowa City, Iowa, February 1, 2020. Mike Segar | Reuters
WASHINGTON — Bernie Sanders has opened up a double-digit lead nationally over his closest rivals in the Democratic presidential primary, where Michael Bloomberg's rise appears to have scrambled the race, according to an NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll released Tuesday. The Vermont senator has the support of 27% of Democratic primary voters, a figure which is unchanged from January, the survey found. Sanders' unchanged support comes despite having won a decisive victory in New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary last week, and an apparent win in Iowa's chaotic caucuses the week before.
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Below is a list of the NBC/WSJ results for support among likely Democratic primary voters, followed by the shift in support since the poll was last conducted in January. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.: 27%, unchanged.
Former Vice President Joe Biden: 15%, down 11 pts
Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg: 14%, up 5 pts
Sen Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.: 14%, down 1 pt
Former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg: 13%, up 6 pts
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.: 7%, up 2 pts
Tom Steyer: 2%, unchanged
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii: 1%, down 1 pt Twelve points behind Sanders is former Vice President Joe Biden, whose support in the poll has plummeted to 15% in the past month, down from a previous figure of 26%. Following closely behind Biden is the billionaire former mayor of New York City, with 14% support, tied with Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. During the past month, Bloomberg has climbed 5 points in the poll, a rise fueled in part by Bloomberg's decision to spend more than $400 million on a barrage of national TV and internet ads. Warren's support, meanwhile, has fallen 4 points nationally since December. Behind Warren and Bloomberg, former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg grew his national support to 13% in February, up 5 points from the previous NBC/WSJ poll.
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Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., billionaire Tom Steyer and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, all trailed Buttigieg. Sanders' 12 point lead is well outside the 4.7 point margin of error of the new survey, which was conducted between Feb 14-17 on a sample size of 900 registered voters. Preliminary analysis of the results indicates that the biggest beneficiaries of Biden's tumbling numbers were Bloomberg and Buttigieg, both moderates who are working hard to offer voters an alternative to the stridently progressive message coming from Sanders. Bloomberg will be making his first appearance on the Democratic primary debate stage this week in Nevada, despite the fact that his is not competing in the first four nominating states: Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina. Instead, Bloomberg has focused on Texas and other states that vote on Super Tuesday, March 3. His ads, however, appear to have made an impression: In January, 59% of poll respondents said they remember seeing an ad from Bloomberg on TV or social media. The survey also measured comfort levels among voters with certain qualities in a presidential candidate for the first time this month. These include a candidate "who self-funds their campaign with hundreds of millions of dollars of their own money" and a candidate who "is a socialist." Among Democratic primary voters, just 16% said they would be "very uncomfortable" voting for a candidate who used his or her personal fortune to fund their campaign. Among registered voters of both parties, the survey found the same number, 16%, reported they would be "very uncomfortable" voting for a self-funded candidate.
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cnbc--2020-02-20--Warren says Bloomberg's debate presence will allow Democrats to show how they'd take on an 'egomania

Warren says Bloomberg's debate presence will allow Democrats to show how they'd take on an 'egomaniac billionaire' like Trump

Sen. Elizabeth Warren tore into rival Mike Bloomberg on Tuesday , forecasting that his appearance on the Democratic debate stage in Las Vegas will allow his rivals to demonstrate their skills at taking on an `` egomaniac billionaire '' such as President Donald Trump .
`` It 's a shame Mike Bloomberg can buy his way into the debate , '' wrote Warren , D-Mass .
`` But at least now primary voters curious about how each candidate will take on Donald Trump can get a live demonstration of how we each take on an egomaniac billionaire . ''
Bloomberg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him down on Wednesday after qualifying for his first debate since entering the 2020 race .
The business titan is estimated to be worth more than $ 60 billion .
Bloomberg , a former New York mayor , has rapidly ascended in the polls — he 's now in third place in national surveys — despite forgoing the first four nominating contests in order to devote resources to the more delegate-rich states that start voting in March .
Warren , for her part , is facing pressure to make a mark at Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ following poor showings in Iowa and New Hampshire , the first states to host nominating contests .
Warren came in third in Iowa and fourth in New Hampshire .

Sen. Elizabeth Warren tore into rival Mike Bloomberg on Tuesday, forecasting that his appearance on the Democratic debate stage in Las Vegas will allow his rivals to demonstrate their skills at taking on an "egomaniac billionaire" such as President Donald Trump.
"It's a shame Mike Bloomberg can buy his way into the debate," wrote Warren, D-Mass. "But at least now primary voters curious about how each candidate will take on Donald Trump can get a live demonstration of how we each take on an egomaniac billionaire."
Bloomberg will face five Democrats eager to take him down on Wednesday after qualifying for his first debate since entering the 2020 race. The business titan is estimated to be worth more than $60 billion.
Warren tweet
Bloomberg, a former New York mayor, has rapidly ascended in the polls — he's now in third place in national surveys — despite forgoing the first four nominating contests in order to devote resources to the more delegate-rich states that start voting in March.
Warren, for her part, is facing pressure to make a mark at Wednesday's debate after sliding in the polls following poor showings in Iowa and New Hampshire, the first states to host nominating contests. Warren came in third in Iowa and fourth in New Hampshire.