Democratic leaders in Iowa and New Hampshire condemned Michael Bloomberg for his op-ed requesting that the primary calendar change to allow other states to have the first votes.

Bloomberg, 77, wrote an article bashing Iowa and New Hampshire for their lack of racial diversity while arguing that the states should not be allowed to have the first-in-the-nation caucuses and primaries. He called the states “homogeneous” and claimed that it was “undemocratic” to allow them heavy influence in presidential races.

The contests in Iowa and New Hampshire, which are both predominantly white, are followed by primaries in Nevada, where Hispanic voters are an important bloc, and South Carolina, where most Democratic voters are black.

In response, party leaders in Iowa and New Hampshire ripped the billionaire for waiting to enter the race and skipping over the early states. They claimed his distaste for the primary schedule stems from his decision to wait too long to get into the race.

“Misplacing frustration with your campaign with falsehoods about the early nominating states is a mistake, and we are puzzled by Mr. Bloomberg’s comments. Anyone who writes off Iowa as inconsequential in the general election hasn’t paid attention to history. Iowa’s grassroots organizing structure connects candidates directly with swing voters to build our bench,” said Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Troy Price.

New Hampshire Democratic Party Chairman Ray Buckley echoed Price’s sentiments and claimed that it looked as though Bloomberg was showing “some second thoughts about his choice not to campaign in South Carolina, Nevada, New Hampshire, and Iowa.” He said that Bloomberg was “desperate for some press attention.”

“Anyone who thinks New Hampshire isn't consequential in the general election must also believe that Al Gore served a term as president of the United States,” Buckley added, noting that the 2000 election would have been Gore’s had President George W. Bush not carried the state’s electoral votes.

Bloomberg has been focusing on the larger Super Tuesday states instead of Iowa. In the latest Iowa poll, Senator Bernie Sanders held the lead while nationwide front-runner Joe Biden sat in fourth.

[Also read: Small showing for Bloomberg rally with Judge Judy despite campaign's big spending]