It's Time to Start Taking Mike Bloomberg Seriously

[left-of-center2012]

Immediately after Michael Bloomberg announced his entry into the presidential race, the dual charges rang out: The former New York City mayor is trying to buy the election. And the former New York City mayor appeals to no one.

Neither of these assumptions is accurate. Bloomberg isn’t trying to buy an election. He’s trying to buy your attention. And it appears he’s having some success. Bloomberg has spent $270 million of his own money on ads thus far, and will be shelling out $11 million on a Super Bowl ad to air Sunday night. He currently finds himself as high as fourth place in recent national polls having appeared in zero debates, and having entered the race months or in some cases years (R.I.P. Delaney 2020) after some Democrats he’s already outpacing.

Bloomberg’s strategy to essentially sit out the states that vote before Super Tuesday has been criticized as not playing by the same rules as all the other candidates. But the tradition of letting a few nonrepresentative states play early kingmaker has also come under widespread and warranted criticism this cycle. Likely by happenstance, Bloomberg is actually in a position to circumvent the old, unfair rulebook.

Given this backdrop, Bloomberg’s record, and the failure of Democrats to coalesce under one moderate alternative to the more progressive candidates in the Democratic field, a Bloomberg candidacy should not be considered a joke, and Bloomberg’s qualifications should not be summarily dismissed. Vote for him or don’t. But the fact that the public learns of Bloomberg’s accomplishments because Bloomberg paid his own money to inform them might not be as disqualifying to actual voters as the other candidates and much of the media seem to think it is.
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/01/mike-bloomberg-president-2020.html

[BigOleDummy]

1. Agreed

When I first heard that he was running I was skeptical to say the least. He DOES have some baggage after all. But in the last few weeks I've seen some of his ad's and , yes I know, have been somewhat impressed.

[tiredtoo]

2. Another Billionaire New Yorker

No thanks, he would be better than the current bum. But i would prefer most of the others.

[BigOleDummy]

5. As do I

But its increasingly clear to me that as long as Citizens United is the law of the land that money and those who have it will decide our political future.

I would prefer Ms. Warren, Mr. Buttigieg or Mr. Yang myself but if its to be another billionaire representing "us" we could do worse.

[samnsara]

3. i would be fine with him.. we could do worse!

[Nikki28]

4. I am also

fine with Bloomberg because of his past history and the money he is spending. Imagine if we get him in the white house and get all three branches. He can buy voting machines to make sure the votes will never be rigged again and we can protect him like repuks are doing now to their king.He knows how to play the game and he will work for us. If Joe, Pete,Amy,Liz don't make it, then he will be on my list and I will work hard for him to get elected.

[left-of-center2012]

8. So you will not support him if he is the Democratic nominee?

Sad

[Blue_Tires]

7. They said this same shit about Yang last month

and the answer for both is still "no"

[question everything]

9. He is my fourth choice

After Klobuchar, Biden and Buttigieg.