Bloomberg Campaign Official Makes Stop In Leesburg: Report

LEESBURG, VA — A top official with billionaire Michael Bloomberg's presidential campaign made a stop in Leesburg Monday to speak with town officials and explain why he believes the former New York City mayor is the Democrats' best chance to beat President Donald Trump in November's presidential election. Former Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, the national political chairman of Bloomberg's campaign, cited Bloomberg's success in business and his commitment to philanthropy as reasons why he would make a good president, LoudounNow reported Monday.

At the meeting, held at Leesburg Diner on King Street, Leesburg Councilman Neil Steinberg asked Nutter why Bloomberg waited so long to get into the race and why voters should throw their support behind another billionaire, according to LoudounNow.

Nutter said Bloomberg has the best organized campaign structure with more than 1,000 staffers working in 30 states to build a support network with local officials and activists, LoudounNow reported. Bloomberg also has the money to spend huge amounts on political advertisements on TV and social media to support his campaign, the former mayor said.

Nutter's visit was the first to Loudoun County by an official with any of the Democratic candidates' campaigns, according to LoudounNow.

The Bloomberg campaign could be focusing on Virginia because of the state's history of supporting candidates whose policies are more traditional and are supported by the political establishment. The Democratic primary in Virginia will take place on March 3, also known as Super Tuesday, when the richest trove of delegates on the primary calendar will be up for grabs.

Unlike its neighbors to the west and the south, Virginia went for Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election. Clinton also won the Democratic primary in a landslide against Sen. Bernie Sanders in March 2016, getting 64 percent of the votes compared to 35 percent for Sanders.

While Bloomberg could fare well in Virginia, many political analysts contend his history as a Republican mayor of New York City and his endorsement of George W. Bush for reelection in 2004 make him a longshot to win the Democratic nomination.