Rival Campaigns Are Starting to Take Bloomberg Very Seriously

[left-of-center2012]

At a closed-door fundraiser late last year, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) was notably fixated on, and visibly irritated by, one of the fellow Democrats vying for the presidential nomination. Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg had just entered the race. But he had already managed to get under his competitor’s skin.

At the event in Northern Virginia, Klobuchar talked at length about Bloomberg’s massive TV ad blitz and the gobs of cash he was planning to throw into the 2020 primary, according to an account from a source in the room who attended. “She talked about how she was on a Sunday show for 10 minutes and saw five or six Bloomberg ads while she was in the green room,” the Democratic attendee, who donated money to Klobuchar’s campaign for entrance into the event, told The Daily Beast. “She’s very worried about the amount of money he’s spending. It was 60 percent of what she talked about,” the source estimated.

In his short time in the race, Bloomberg’s campaign has ramped up its infrastructure and ground game. He has scored several endorsements from fellow mayors and members of congress, held major events for a new campaign and is currently airing ads in 27 states, including all Super Tuesday contests.

Eyeing these movements, some rivals have begun more forcefully calling him out by name, while others have worked in private, conducting internal polling on his possible delegate hauls and pushing opposition research to blunt his traction. Another source from a rival campaign said that Bloomberg doesn’t factor into their official strategy, but conceded that staffers are following his moves in certain states, including California, which represents a potentially huge delegate haul for hizzoner. “We see that Bloomberg’s playing very big in California,” the senior campaign aide said.

Privately, some establishment Democrats are cheering the Bloomberg boomlet, having talked themselves into the prospect of a Democratic presidential candidate with centrist appeal and absurdly deep pockets being the best nominee to take on Trump.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/michael-bloombergs-2020-campaign-is-starting-to-make-its-rivals-nervous

[bucolic_frolic]

1. Replace despotism with enlightened monarchy

but it's still all about private interest - making money

[brooklynite]

2. Please elaborate...

Bloomberg ran for office three times. He was elected three times. Then he stepped down.

[left-of-center2012]

3. monarchy?

He was elected Mayor of NYC as a Republican,
Independent,
and Democrat.

He can win over a majority of voters in November.

[bucolic_frolic]

4. His world view is businessman making money

He's an upgrade, not a true politician in the lawyering sense

[left-of-center2012]

5. 12 years as Mayor of NYC

Not a true politician?

okie dokie smokie

[liskddksil]

6. How are people considering this guy? He literally spoke on behalf of George W. Bush in 2004

He endorsed Pat Toomey, Susan Collins and others who have been complicit in Moscow Mitch's majority. There is nothing Democratic about him.

[left-of-center2012]

7. "There is nothing Democratic about him"

Uh, he was the Democratic mayor of NYC.
Guess they liked him enough.

PS -
He also won election as an Independent and a Republican,
so can win a majority of voters this fall.

[liskddksil]

8. Half this board craps on Bernie for whatever he labels himself, but crickets on Bloomberg

all because of his money. I thought we had some principles in this party, but guess not.

Oh and NYC definitely didn't like him that much, since he was more worried about people's soda intake than their cost of living.

[left-of-center2012]

9. okie dokie smokie