Bernie Sanders to Michael Bloomberg: 'You ain't going to buy this election'

The growing possibility of a MIchael Bloomberg presidential run seems to be energizing another presidential candidate.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) directly challenged the billionaire during a Democratic presidential campaign speech Saturday in Iowa. "Our campaign is going to end the grotesque level of income and wealth inequality which exists in America today," Sanders said. "So tonight we say to Michael Bloomberg and other billionaires: Sorry, you ain't going to buy this election."

Bloomberg is contemplating a run at the Democratic nomination and filed for the Alabama primary Friday.

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Sanders, who was joined on stage by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), also criticized Bloomberg's plan, if he runs, to bypass early voting states like Iowa and New Hampshire in favor of focusing on states with high numbers of delegates like Texas and California.

Sanders, a progressive who has made wealth inequality one of the hallmarks of his 2016 and 2020 presidential bids, could benefit from a Bloomberg run, The New York Times reports, since the more moderate former New York City mayor could steal some votes from the current leading centrist candidate, former Vice President Joe Biden. Though, on Saturday at least, Sanders' resentment at yet another billionaire entering the race seemed to take precedence over long term strategic thinking. Perhaps they're two sides of the same coin. Read more at The New York Times and The Washington Post.