De Blasio Gets Snubbed For Prime Time DNC Slot For Former Republican Mayor Michael Bloomberg
PHILADELPHIA (CBSNewYork) -- The current Democratic mayor of New York got snubbed out of a prime time speech at the Democratic National Convention for former Republican Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
De Blasio spoke around 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, while Bloomberg will take the stage around 9:20 p.m., CBS2's Marcia Kramer reported.
During his time on stage, de Blasio said that Hillary Clinton will be "armed with the most progressive agenda in modern times" when she's president.
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"Hillary Clinton will tackle inequality and will be a force for real progressive change in this nation," de Blasio said.
Calling Donald Trump "scary," the mayor slammed the controversial Trump University.
"A place his own employees called a scam, where vulnerable Americans were pushed to spend more and more money on worthless classes," de Blasio said. "The only person Donald took care of was himself."
He said Trump was hoping for a housing crisis when he was asked about it in 2006, so that he could buy the properties.
"That is the very definition of the predator class," de Blasio said.
De Blasio added that Clinton has four for the rights of women and girls across the world.
"Hillary Clinton – she's smart, she's steady, she's right, and she's ready," he said.
CBS2's Kramer reported Bloomberg will be the prime time darling at the DNC, as he will speak right after Vice President Joe Biden.
Before his speech, de Blasio told Kramer that Bloomberg could be important to winning.
"To have a leading independent who thought about running himself say, 'Hey, there's a stark contrast and I'm choosing Hillary,' that's important," de Blasio said.
New York officials were split on de Blasio's time slot.
"I would think that the current mayor would have a prime spot in prime time because everybody knows him to be a progressive and he should be able to speak at a time when everybody is at the table," former New York Congresswoman Una Clarke said.
New York state Sen. Brad Hoylman stated, "In this age, where people watch on iPhone or YouTube, it doesn't matter if it's live, it matters what the message is."
The New York delegation is glad that Bloomberg is on board, and recognize how much it can help Clinton.
"She now has to push out to the independents and the undecideds who are not Democrats to get them on board, so his voice is very, very important," Rep. Carolyn Maloney said.
Political expert Larry Levy of Hofstra University said that Bloomberg "can do an awful lot to help bring independents to help" Clinton.
"What she needs help with is moderate suburbanites and ironically Michael Bloomberg, with his sensible positions on gun control and on the environment, issues that resonate with swing voters, could really help her with people who decide national elections," Levy said.
Vice presidential nominee Tim Kaine and President Barack Obama will also be speaking tonight.
