Warren goes negative on Bloomberg in new ad

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) on Tuesday attacked fellow Democratic presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg in a new ad, slamming the billionaire over his previous Republican ties.

Warren took aim at Bloomberg’s large number of television ads and targeted his record of endorsing and financing Republican candidates, including the GOP senator Warren unseated in 2012 in Massachusetts.

“You’ve probably seen more ads from Michael Bloomberg than the rest of us running for president put together,” Warren said in the 30-second ad. “Big money is powerful, but it doesn’t always win. I know that firsthand, when I ran against an incumbent Republican to take a U.S Senate seat away from Mitch McConnell, Bloomberg endorsed the Republican and he raised big money for him. But I beat him anyway.”

Warren ends the ad saying, “I believe our democracy should work for you, not the billionaires.” 

Bloomberg endorsed then-Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) in 2012 during the high profile campaign between him and Warren. Bloomberg touted Brown’s opposition, breaking with his party, to legislation that would allow concealed-carry permits issued by states to apply nationwide.  

“Mike is the only candidate who has taken on the NRA and won, including when Mike’s gun safety advocacy group convinced Scott Brown to deliver the NRA one of their biggest losses ever, stopping a bill that would have allowed people to carry a concealed firearm in every single state,” Bloomberg spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said in a statement in response to Warren’s ad. 

Warren targeted Bloomberg during much of last week’s Democratic debate in Nevada. 

The candidates will again appear on stage Tuesday night in South Carolina ahead of The Palmetto State’s primary this weekend. 

Warren has yet to place in the top two in the first three voting states, but she saw an influx in donations after last week’s debate which could give her an edge heading into South Carolina and the Super Tuesday contests next week. 

The Hill has reached out to the Warren campaign for additional information on where the new ad is running.

Updated Feb. 25, 10:18 a.m.