Michael Bloomberg Is In, Wayne Messam Is Out

Former New York City mayor and billionaire Michael Bloomberg has joined the race for president on the Democratic side, a change-of-course after declaring earlier this year that he wouldn't run. Here's how CNN is covering it:

Michael Bloomberg officially announced his late-entry Democratic presidential bid on Sunday, unveiling a campaign that the former New York mayor said will be squarely aimed at defeating President Donald Trump.

Bloomberg, in a letter explaining his candidacy on his campaign website, lays out a more moderate vision for the country and casts himself as "a doer and a problem solver -- not a talker."

"I'm running for president to defeat Donald Trump and rebuild America. We cannot afford four more years of President Trump's reckless and unethical actions," Bloomberg wrote.

Bloomberg's late 2020 bid -- along with the money the billionaire can spend to fund his campaign -- injects a new level of uncertainty into the race less than three months before the first voting in the race begins. In the last several days there was little doubt he was running.

Bloomberg, who had said earlier this year that he would not run, reversed his decision because he doesn't think there's a candidate in the current field of Democrats who can beat Trump next November, several people close to the former mayor told CNN. That includes former Vice President Joe Biden, who Bloomberg has watched fade in Iowa polling and struggle with fundraising. (Read more here.)

In other campaign news, Miramar, Florida mayor Wayne Messam has suspended his campaign, after minimal fundraising and zero debate appearances. Will Michael Bloomberg qualify for the final debate of 2019, on December 19? Stay tuned. So far, Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg, Kamala Harris, Amy Klobuchar, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren are confirmed participants.

I've moved Bloomberg to the "I'm Running" list and Messam to the "I'm Not Running Anymore" list.

I'm Not Running Anymore Declared candidates who have dropped out:

1. Richard Ojeda (1/25/19)
2. Eric Swalwell (7/8/19)
3. John Hickenlooper (8/15/19)
4. Jay Inslee  (8/21/19)
5. Seth Moulton (8/23/19)
6. Kirsten Gillibrand (8/28/19)
7. Howard Schultz (9/6/19) * Ran as an Independent   
8. Bill de Blasio (9/20/19)
9. Tim Ryan (10/24/19)
10. Beto O'Rourke (11/1/19)
11. Wayne Messam (11/20/19)

I'm Running Declared Democratic candidates, in order of their announcement:

1. John Delaney (7/28/17) 
2. Andrew Yang (11/6/17) 
3. Elizabeth Warren (12/31/18)
4. Tulsi Gabbard (1/11/19)
5. Julián Castro (1/12/19)
6. Kamala Harris (1/21/19)
7. Pete Buttigieg (1/23/19)
8. Marianne Williamson (1/30/19)
9. Cory Booker (2/1/19)
10. Amy Klobuchar (2/10/19)
11. Bernie Sanders (2/19/19)
12. Joe Biden (4/25/19)
13. Michael Bennet (5/2/19)
14. Steve Bullock (5/14/19)
15. Joe Sestak (6/22/19) 
16. Tom Steyer (7/9/19)
17. Deval Patrick (11/13/19)
18. Michael Bloomberg (11/24/19)

Days until Election Day: 344

Days until the Iowa Caucuses: 71