The final sprint to Super Tuesday

By Jessica Estepa and Kyle Blaine, CNN

Updated 11:53 p.m. ET, March 2, 2020
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11:13 p.m. ET, March 2, 2020

Bloomberg on Selma church protesters: “It’s not the first time in my life I’ve been protested, ain’t going to be the last”

From CNN's Kate Sullivan

CNN
CNN

Michael Bloomberg spoke about the moment on Sunday when protesters turned their backs to him as he addressed the historic Brown Chapel AME Church in Selma, Alabama.

“Look, we have a democracy,” Bloomberg told CNN’s Don Lemon. “You don’t have to, you can protest if you want. I don’t think you can, you should disrupt everybody else’s rights. But in all fairness, they stood up had their backs to me, it’s not the first time in my life I’ve been protested, ain’t going to be the last.” 

“They have a right to say what they want to say,” Bloomberg said. 

10:45 p.m. ET, March 2, 2020

Bloomberg says he called Buttigieg after he dropped out

From CNN's Kate Sullivan

Michael Bloomberg said he called Pete Buttigieg on Sunday and talked to him after the former South Bend mayor dropped out of the president race. 

“I just said -- it took two minutes -- I just said, look, I’m sorry it ended that way for you, and you’re a gentleman and I listened when you were, to your speeches, and I thought a lot of what you said made sense and I tell you you have a big career going forward," Bloomberg told CNN's Don Lemon.

"He went through the Bloomberg Foundation training program for mayors, he was in the first class, so I have to say nice things about him," Bloomberg said.

10:42 p.m. ET, March 2, 2020

Bloomberg: Biden is a legislator, being president “requires a manager and executive”

From CNN's Kate Sullivan

Michael Bloomberg suggested Joe Biden was not ready to be President of the United States, and that the job requires a “manager and executive.”

"(Biden) is a legislator, and the job (of being president) requires a manager and executive, and I feel very strongly about that," Bloomberg told CNN's Don Lemon.

Lemon responded, "He was the Vice President. (Former President Barack) Obama thought he was ready. You don't think he's ready?"

"Obama thought he was ready for what?" Bloomberg said.

"He was his Vice President, he was ready to be president. That's the next job," Lemon said.

"I don't know, you'd have to talk to President Obama about that," Bloomberg said. "All I know is we keep putting legislators in the job that requires a manager."

Earlier in the interview, Bloomberg told Lemon that he was the candidate who could beat President Donald Trump, and that he was "ready for the job, and I don't think any of the others are."

10:49 p.m. ET, March 2, 2020

Bloomberg says Pence “doesn’t have the credentials” to lead coronavirus response 

From CNN's Kate Sullivan

Michael Bloomberg said Vice President Mike Pence does not have the credentials to be in charge of the US government’s response to the coronavirus. 

CNN’s Don Lemon said, “I want to talk about the coronavirus. Cases are on the rise in the United States right now. If you were in the White House right now, what exactly would you do to stop its spread?”

“You first have to have somebody in charge that is a doctor or scientist with a reputation for dealing with pandemics worldwide. It is not Michael Pence, who I think he said something about there’s no connection between smoking and cancer. That is not the kind of person you have,” Bloomberg said. 

Bloomberg said Pence “doesn’t have the credentials to do this, and so people worry about it.”

See Bloomberg's answer:

10:39 p.m. ET, March 2, 2020

Bloomberg: “I am ready for the job, and I don’t think any of the others are”

From CNN's Kate Sullivan

Michael Bloomberg said he is the candidate who can beat President Donald Trump, and that he is the only candidate who is ready for the job. 

CNN’s Don Lemon asked Bloomberg, “We’re on the eve of Super Tuesday. The stakes are high for you. Tomorrow night you’re going to have to convince voters that you’re the guy. So how do you convince them that you are the one? What do you say to them?

“Two things,” Bloomberg said. “I can beat Donald Trump, and I don’t know that any of the other Democratic candidates can, and two, that I am ready for the job and I don’t think any of the others are.”
10:43 p.m. ET, March 2, 2020

Warren discusses the difference between her campaign promises and Sanders'

When it comes to paying for her health care plan, Elizabeth Warren used her appearance on CNN tonight to share her ideas and how they compare to Bernie Sanders'.

The question from CNN's Don Lemon specifically asked about Sanders' proposals on healthcare, free college and more and how the Vermont senator plans to pay for them compares to Warren's.

"I don't see it the same way. Bernie thinks we should raise taxes on middle class families to pay for healthcare. And I've shown we don't have to do that. A much better way to do it raise taxes on the top 1%. To make giant corporations like Amazon and Eli Lilly that report billions of dollars in profit and pay nothing in taxes, I think cracking down harder on them makes sense. And my personal favorite, hiring more IRS agents to go after the richest tax cheats. Turns out we can generate a lot of money from that," Warren said.

More on Sanders' healthcare plan: Sanders has been pushing a single-payer health care system for decades. It’s the centerpiece of his vision for a more democratic socialist America. There are several such proposals for a single-payer system, including a 100-page draft bill most recently introduced, with tweaks, by Sanders in 2019.

The Medicare for All plan would leave intact the current infrastructure of doctors, hospitals and other health care providers, but nationalize the health insurance industry. Nearly all the money individuals and employers currently pay into the system as well as much of the money states pay would, under Sanders’ plan, instead go through the federal government.

10:40 p.m. ET, March 2, 2020

Warren touts progressive track record: “I did the hard work, I dug in, I took on Wall Street”

From CNN's Kate Sullivan

Elizabeth Warren touted her work taking on Wall Street and said it takes hard work to get a progressive agenda passed when asked about recent contrasts the senator has drawn between herself and Bernie Sanders.

CNN’s Don Lemon said, “You have said you and Sen. Sanders are friends. You are now drawing sharp contrasts between you and Sen Sanders. You’re saying, ‘I get real stuff done. I don't want to be president just to yell at people.’ Are you suggesting that Sen. Sanders wouldn't be an effective president?” 

“Look, I’m here to make the case for why I think I would be the best president for our country,” Warren responded. 

“I had warned and warned and warned about the financial crash, and there were a lot of progressives who really wanted to reign in Wall Street, but I was the one who got in there,” Warren said. “I did the hard work, I dug in, I took on Wall Street, I took on the big banks.”

“We can make government work for the people,” Warren said. “But it takes a lot of hard work to get this kind of progressive agenda passed. And I’ve got a track record for that.”

10:32 p.m. ET, March 2, 2020

Warren speaks on wave of endorsements for Biden and what they mean

CNN
CNN

Sen. Elizabeth Warren spoke about the new endorsements for Joe Biden from Beto O'Rourke, Amy Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg as an example of how "they see the world in many ways the same" as the former vice president.

"I think they see the world in many ways the same way that the vice president does. So I understand that. It makes some sense. But what really has changed is the field has narrowed sharply. And this is going to be a race that really puts it to people about what kind of leader we want for the Democratic party. But also what kind of leader we want for our country," Warren said.

Watch Warren here:

10:27 p.m. ET, March 2, 2020

O’Rourke endorses Biden for president at Dallas rally 

From CNN's Kate Sullivan

CNN
CNN

Beto O’Rourke endorsed Joe Biden at a campaign event in Dallas, Texas on Monday night. 

“Ladies and gentlemen, tomorrow, March 3, 2020, I will be casting my ballot for Joe Biden,” the former Texas congressman and presidential contender said.

“And let me tell you why," O'Rourke continued. "We need somebody who can beat Donald Trump. The man in the White House today poses an existential threat to this country, to our democracy, to free and fair elections. And we need somebody who can beat him." 

Watch moment here: