Michael Bloomberg “brushed back critiques about his wealth and bristled at the suggestion that he was using it to buy success in the 2020 presidential race, arguing that other Democrats who have complained about his entry into their party’s primary could have taken it upon themselves to earn their own personal fortunes, as he had done,” the New York Times reports.

Said Bloomberg: “They had a chance to go out and make a lot of money. And how much of their own money do they put into their campaigns?”

He added: “I’m doing exactly the same thing they’re doing, except that I am using my own money. They’re using somebody else’s money and those other people expect something from them. Nobody gives you money if they don’t expect something. And I don’t want to be bought.”

Sen. Elizabeth Warren released a doctor’s report which says the presidential candidate is “in excellent health.”

Amy Walter: “Back in the 2016 campaign, I noticed a pattern that could be called ‘the spotlight paradox:’ whenever the focus was on one candidate, the other candidate benefited… There’s something of a spotlight paradox happening in the Democratic primary this year. The candidates who have spent time under the bright lights have wilted, while those sitting in its shadow have risen.”

“Why is this? Democrats don’t suddenly dislike the candidates who have undergone the scrutiny that comes with front runner status. What they do dislike, however, is vulnerability. For many Democratic voters, President Trump is an existential threat. As with any existential threat, the most important question is who/what can beat it. In 2019, a candidate’s ideology isn’t as important as his or her ability to take a punch. And be able to punch back.”