Throughout the Democratic primary process, Senator Elizabeth Warren’s most significant competitor has been fellow progressive Senator Bernie Sanders. Now that Sanders is surging, you would think that would make him an even bigger rival. Why then has Warren’s strategy for the past week, one of the most important yet in this election season, been to attack Mike Bloomberg above all others? Not just that, she is prioritizing attacking him over other issues. And last night she borrowed a jab right out of Donald Trump’s playbook and made fun of Bloomberg’s height. After what appears to be a fourth-place finish in the Nevada Caucuses, this is how she began her speech:
“I want to talk specifically, for just a minute at the top, about a threat, that is coming our way, it’s a big threat, not a tall one, but a big one, Michael Bloomberg.”
This came just days after Warren accused Bloomberg of calling women “fat broads” and “horse face.” It makes it all the more difficult to justify her anti-name-calling when she disparages a person’s height.
After bombing in Nevada, Elizabeth Warren deploys Trumpian attack on Bloomberg:
"I wanna talk specifically for just a minute at the top about a threat that is coming our way. And it's a big threat, not a tall one, but a big one: Michael Bloomberg." pic.twitter.com/SqcBGV2W7X
— Alex Rubinstein (@RealAlexRubi) February 23, 2020
I am not a fan of bullying or making fun of people. Elizabeth Warren is well educated and incredibly smart, when I heard her attack Mike Bloomberg, making fun of his height truly disappointed me and offended me. Right out of trump’s playbook. Way to go.
— Marilyn Sue Bynum (@SueBynum) February 23, 2020
Not only was this jab a low blow, but it prompts a big question.
Can someone tell me why she thinks hitting Bloomberg and not Bernie is the right strategy? I am a fan, already voted for her in California but beyond raising money, not sure how this makes sense.
— Justin Satzman (@jsatz23) February 23, 2020
Bernie Sanders is the frontrunner. Warren hasn’t lost one race to Bloomberg yet, but has fallen behind Bernie (and others) 3 times now.
There is no electoral reason for this focus, unless she’s not actually trying to win anymore & instead is drawing attention away from Bernie ?♂️ https://t.co/WINyem7Cni
— Dan (@DaytimeDan) February 23, 2020
Conservative Rick Wilson made this comment after last week’s debate and now it rings even truer. Warren and the other Democrats taking part in the South Carolina debate this week should be focusing on Sanders.
Just a note (and RIP my mentions), if you're a Democrat, you need to be taking on Commandate Bernardo
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) February 20, 2020
*This post contains opinion and analysis