Michael Bloomberg Ends Bid To Become President

NEW YORK CITY — Michael Bloomberg on Wednesday ended his bid to become the next president of the United States after a woeful performance in the Super Tuesday primaries.

The former mayor of New York City endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden.

The billionaire Bloomberg had pumped $500 million of his own cash into the campaign, which never found its feet.

He had hung his hopes on a strong performance on Tuesday but won only American Samoa. Biden, meanwhile, had a strong night, winning several Southern states including Texas and remaining in a tight contest with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Bloomberg is the latest candidate to endorse Biden as a moderate alternative to the democratic socialist Sanders. Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar and former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg also backed Biden after they dropped out of the race.

Bloomberg entered the Democratic race in November, months after the other candidates. His campaign never really took off, and he was haunted by his stop-and-frisk policy while mayor of New York City. The tactic was criticized for targeting blacks and Latinos disproportionately.

"Our campaign has ended, but our fight is not over," he said on his campaign website.

"I hope you will continue to be part of our effort to defeat Donald Trump and start rebuilding our country," he said. "Together we will get it done."