Michael Bloomberg to endorse Hillary Clinton, speak at convention

In a surprising move, Michael Bloomberg, a billionaire media executive and the former mayor of New York City, will endorse Hillary Clinton for president, The New York Times reports. Bloomberg left the Democratic Party in 2000 to become a registered Republican. Earlier this year, he was considering his own presidential run as an independent. Bloomberg agrees with Clinton on subjects like gun control and immigration, but, the Times reports, "he has also been a vocal ally of the financial services industry and has defended the strict policing tactics his administration employed in New York." Even so, the Times says Bloomberg is dismayed at the thought of a Donald Trump presidency, and believes Clinton to be a "far better choice," said Howard Wolfson, a Bloomberg adviser.

On Wednesday, Bloomberg will make his case for Clinton on stage at the Democratic National Convention, alongside other convention headliners like President Barack Obama, and Clinton's VP pick, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.). The hope, it seems, is that Bloomberg's endorsement will speak to undecided moderates. "As the nation's leading independent and a pragmatic business leader, Mike has supported candidates from both sides of the aisle," Wolfson told the Times. Jessica Hullinger

Editor's note: This article originally mischaracterized Bloomberg's positions on gun control and immigration. It has since been corrected. We regret the error.

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