John Mellencamp backs Bloomberg in 2020 race, handing billionaire third celebrity endorsement
Mellencamp used his 1985 hit “Small Town” to highlight Bloomberg’s plan to revitalize rural communities across the country
Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg picked up his third major celebrity endorsement this week.
Grammy-award winning singer and songwriter John Mellencamp announced he was backing the former New York City mayor and billionaire in the 2020 presidential election in a one-minute TV ad shared by Bloomberg’s campaign.
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Mellencamp used his 1985 hit “Small Town” to highlight Bloomberg’s plan to revitalize rural communities across the country. In early January, Bloomberg unveiled an economic plan that included a list of initiatives to better prepare the American workforce for the future and to help rural areas catch up with prosperous cities. It’s unclear how much the plan, dubbed the “All-In Economy,” would cost or how it would be paid for.
“The stakes are too high to not nominate the candidate who will take the fight directly to Trump,” Mellencamp said in a news release. “From small towns to big cities, Mike Bloomberg has the experience to represent all Americans. He’s a job creator, philanthropist, and true public servant, and I am confident that as president, he will restore America to a place we can be proud of once again.”
A major focus of Bloomberg’s plan is sending billions of dollars to communities to help create jobs and grow incomes, including launching a major public research and development initiative in industries like agriculture, manufacturing and medicine that rewards cities for the best plans for inclusive growth.
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“He intends to finally invest in our infrastructure and partner with community colleges to prepare the next generation for next-generation jobs,” Mellencamp, who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008, said in the ad, “because small towns still have big dreams, and Mike intends to fight for them.”
The ad, titled “Small Towns,” will air across 23 states beginning Wednesday.
Other celebrity backers of Bloomberg include court TV personality Judge Judith Sheindlin, popularly known as “Judge Judy,” and fashion icon Tim Gunn.
If the presidential election were decided by the sheer volume and star power of celebrity endorsements, Sen. Bernie Sanders would certainly be victorious. The Vermont independent and self-described Democratic socialist dominated the Democratic field when it came to celebrity endorsements, snagging support from some of the biggest stars right now, like Ariana Grande, Cardi B and Lizzo, as well as “Avengers” star Mark Ruffalo.