Seeking to draw a direct contrast with President Trump and present himself as the best Democratic alternative, Michael R. Bloomberg will deliver a three-minute prerecorded address on the coronavirus outbreak in an ad on network television Sunday night, his campaign announced.
It was not immediately clear how much of Mr. Bloomberg’s personal fortune he spent to provide himself with the elevated platform. But his campaign released the video of his remarks on Saturday, pitching the ad buy as an “unprecedented candidate address.”
“At times like this, it is the job of the president to reassure the public that he or she is taking all the steps necessary to protect the health and well-being of every citizen,” Mr. Bloomberg says in the taped address, which is set to air around 8:30 p.m. Eastern time Sunday on CBS and NBC. “The public wants to know their leader is trained, informed and respected. When a problem arises, they want someone in charge who can marshal facts and expertise to confront the problem.”
In the ad that will air Sunday, Mr. Bloomberg does not mention Mr. Trump by name. Instead, he cites his own leadership experience rebuilding New York City after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, and grappling with public health problems like West Nile virus and swine flu.
“Each crisis is different, but they all require steady leadership, team building and preparation,” he says in the address. “As Americans we have faced many challenges before, and we have overcome them together by looking out for one another — and I am confident that is how we will get through this one as well.”