Bloomberg set to address Democratic National Convention, endorse Clinton

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Michael Bloomberg to endorse Hillary Clinton

Former mayor of New York to speak at Democratic National Convention

Not to be outdone, Hillary Clinton will have a former New York City mayor on her convention stage, too.

Ex-NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg is set to give a prime-time speech and endorse the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee at this week’s Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia – just a week after former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani addressed the Republican convention in a fiery speech to lend his support to GOP nominee Donald Trump.

The news was first reported by The New York Times and subsequently confirmed by Bloomberg, who retweeted the Times story with the title highlighted: “Dismayed by Donald Trump, Michael Bloomberg will Endorse Hillary Clinton.”

Bloomberg was said to be weighing his own possible independent run for the presidency earlier this year, but in March he made the decision not to toss his hat in the ring.

Bloomberg served three terms as New York City mayor, running twice as a Republican and once as an independent. He had been a registered Democrat before seeking the post.

The theme of Bloomberg's Wednesday night speech was disclosed by a senior adviser.

“As the nation’s leading independent and a pragmatic business leader, Mike has supported candidates from both sides of the aisle,” Howard Wolfson told The Times. “This week in Philadelphia he will make a strong case that the clear choice in this election is Hillary Clinton.”

Bloomberg has been highly critical of Trump, criticizing his fellow billionaire businessman’s plans to ban Muslim immigrants and deport illegal immigrants -- among other areas of disagreement.

“These moves would divide us at home and compromise our moral leadership around the world,” Bloomberg wrote in a March column in which he discussed his decision not to run for president. “The end result would be to embolden our enemies, threaten the security of our allies, and put our own men and women in uniform at greater risk.”