Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg may be late to the table, but he brings a lot to it.

The Medford-raised Bloomberg started his first-of-three terms as New York City mayor in 2002, when the city’s wounds from the 9/11 terror attacks were still fresh. He led New York’s economic recovery, spurring job creation while taking a tough stance on crime. Bloomberg also tackled poverty, launching the Young Men’s Initiative and the Center for Economic Opportunity. New York City, with a population of more than 8 million people, is bigger than some countries and embodies within its boroughs much of the complexity and many of the same problems facing the United States as a whole. Bloomberg’s tenure as mayor was impressive.

He is a liberal, but hasn’t taken the party’s lemming-like leap off the Left edge. He’s called Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s Green New Deal “pie in the sky,” but promises an “achievable” version. Bloomberg is against Medicare for All, citing its innate flaw in that it would bankrupt the system.

He gets it — he’s a businessman, and his private-sector experience as founder and CEO of Bloomberg LP informs his leadership.

Bernie Sanders, now leading the Democratic field, stands little chance against Donald Trump, as a socialist entirely out of touch with the mainstream and spirit of this country. Elizabeth Warren has proven to be a deeply flawed and failing candidate, as has Joe Biden. Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar, while they have had their moments, lack the depth and breadth of Bloomberg’s experience.

He’s offering sound solutions and grounded responses to issues facing the country such as health care funding, climate change and economic progress.

For Super Tuesday, the Herald endorses Michael Bloomberg in the Democratic presidential primary.