Bloomberg's Support May Be Broader Than I Thought

[stopbush]

Anecdotal evidence to be sure, but a recent post I made to FB expressing support for Mike has brought numerous concurring comments from friends. I am surprised at how many took the opportunity to say they outright support Mike, but more surprised at the many comments from supporters of other D candidates who are considering changing their support to Mike.

These comments came post-Iowa. I wonder if the mess in Iowa has people spooked, that the chaos has somehow attached to candidates who bear no responsibility for said chaos. That would be unfortunate, but it may also be an inconvenient truth.

[comradebillyboy]

1. Bloomberg could surprise us all. How about a

Bloomberg-Warren ticket to cover most of the bases? Or even better a Bloomberg-Harris slate?

[Doremus]

4. Considering that he supported her opponent in 2012 I doubt she'd be interested.

Edited to add:

Elizabeth Warren. He supported her opponent Scott Brown, Republican.

[redqueen]

11. Gee, I wonder why he supported a republican over Warren.

Hmmmmmmmmmm

[Doremus]

16. Very good question, redqueen! Very good question indeed. nt

[comradebillyboy]

15. At this moment I don't think either one will be our nominee.

But speculating is fun.

[Blue_true]

25. More likely Bloomberg-Booker.

The two know each-other well from their time as big city mayors and they are friendly toward each-other. But a Bloomberg-Harris ticket would work.

[mia]

42. Bloomberg-Booker!

Best combination so far.

[Demsrule86]

41. No, We need someone younger and who can help with the blue wall states.

And Mass has a Gop governor. Look what happened with Scott Brown.

[OKNancy]

2. I was shocked at my brother-in-law

He is a huge fan of Thomas Piketty. But at Christmas dinner he was talking up Bloomberg as a good person to beat Trump.

[Doremus]

3. I see panic and fear leading to rash decisions and later regret.

Giuliani is just one of many skeletons in Bloomberg’s partisan closet. As he pursues the Democratic presidential nomination, he’ll have to explain the millions he’s spent putting Republicans into office, including contributions backing more than a dozen current and former members of Congress.

The billionaire businessman, who has switched parties several times throughout his political career, endorsed George W. Bush’s 2004 reelection campaign, contributed to John McCain and even held a fundraiser for a House GOP member as recently as last year.

And that’s not all. Beneficiaries of his largesse include former Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), a vigorous Trump defender, and Senate Appropriations Chairman Richard Shelby of Alabama, who once chaired the Senate Banking Committee.

Then there’s former Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.). Bloomberg endorsed and held a fundraiser for Brown when he ran against Elizabeth Warren in 2012.

“As a Democratic candidate for president, he makes an excellent Republican donor,” quipped Pennsylvania Democratic Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, who has not yet endorsed anyone in the primary.

https://www.politico.com/news/2019/11/26/bloomberg-republican-endorsement-2020-073807

[bullwinkle428]

5. This is exactly why I want to see him on the debate stage. I don't want the

incredibly well-produced commercials alone to define the narrative.

[Doremus]

12. I'm all for the world seeing his unvarnished self. What sticks in my craw is how he got there.

Write a check to the DNC, voila!

It sucks.

[comradebillyboy]

17. He wrote a check to the DNC? Any evidence or is it just a casual smear?

[Doremus]

19. He did.

The portion distributed to the DNC was $319,500, according to records filed with the Federal Elections Commission.

https://nypost.com/2020/01/29/bloomberg-gave-800k-to-democratic-party-during-campaign-launch/

You can come to your own conclusions as to any influence it had, or didn't have, on the decision to allow him on the debate stage.

[comradebillyboy]

20. He donated more than $100 million to help Democrats in the 2018 mid-term elections.

OK I won't condemn him for that.

[Blue_true]

27. His polling numbers alone are enough to get him on the stage, and he should be there.

Any candidate with serious polling numbers should get on the debate stage to answer for his or her policy positions and past political decisions. To not have people that have serious polling numbers on stage would be a mistake.

[spooky3]

30. I agree. nt

[Doremus]

34. He can go on the stage all he wants. I don't care.

What I care very much about is that the rules are the same for everybody. If you can overlook that more power to you.

[Blue_true]

35. Putting him on stage was a very wise move by the DNC.

That forces him to face other significant polling candidates, deal with their questions to him and have to defend everything that he stands for and has done. You should welcome that.

[I_M_Blue_2]

21. This gives him an advantage in passing his program in Congress N/T

[Blue_true]

29. I agree. Plus his agenda will likely be achievable. nt

[bucolic_frolic]

6. Any sane functioning adult

Bloomberg has stature, integrity. I'd not be a fan of another businessman, I think we need a diplomat-lawyer-career politician familiar with the past, the operations of government, who understands how to stitch this back together. Bloomberg is not a big overlap on that, but he would hire quality people to get things done. I think we're just flummoxed after Iowa and grasping at straws in this time period, but I do think a brokered convention is possible, and therefore candidates of high caliber which includes Mike Bloomberg of course are very much in the sieve.

[CrispyQ]

7. I've gotta say that Bloomberg is cracking me up.

Someone asked him what he thought Americans would think of two New York billionaires running for president, and he responded, "Who's the other one?" His ads and tweets are good! And he has the bucks to spread them far and wide. And he's landed some punches if the Con's tweets are any indication.

Of the three older white men running, I think Bloomberg is the one candidate the Con is the least prepared to run against. They will come after Biden with a fake investigation, and they will call Bernie a socialist and rev up the old "they're going to give all your money to people who don't work" fear. And both tactics will negatively influence a huge number of voters. What has the Con got against Bloomberg? Oh that's right. He's short.

My primary vote will go for whoever I think can knock the Con down. I have a few more weeks to decide.

[redqueen]

14. Not just that he's short.

He's also the owner of a huge media empire.

The media is right up there with Congress and a bad case of the runs as things people really hate.

Then there's the fact that he's ban-happy. Most Americans don't like bans.

And let's not forget the example of his disdain for civil rights - stop and risk - which yeah he did admit he was wrong, but he only did so a few months ago.

He will be a nice, fat target for many, many attacks.

[tinrobot]

24. Right there with you. My number one goal is taking back the White House.

In terms of overall policy, Bloomberg is not my ideal choice. I'm much more liberal.

But - in terms of the way Bloomberg is campaigning, he's currently the best. Bloomberg's the only one attacking Trump in a way that really hurts him. The rest of the candidates need to learn a lesson from that.

So... he's made my short list, I'll decide when the primary rolls around.

[Horizens]

26. "My primary vote will go for whoever I think can knock the Con down."

Exactly

[captain queeg]

8. I hate that it's got to the point where you have to be a billionaire to be president.

That being said not all billionaires are created equal. If it turns out he’s the democratic nominee I’d happily support him

[ZenDem]

9. I'm surprised.

I actually started doing some more research.

Absolutely zero offense to any of the current top runners, but I just can't get excited about any of them. After Harris and Castro dropped out, I think I just decided to sit back and wait to see who we would end up with.

Not 100% on board with Bloomberg, but I'm far less against him than I thought I would be. I just keep waiting for a shoe to drop, though. Kicked Dog Syndrome, probably.

I still don't have a 'chosen one'. It changes daily.

[redqueen]

10. Bad sign.

We may be witnessing the end of the party.

[Amishman]

22. The end of democracy. NO BILLIONAIRES

Our party is not for sale.

No Bloomberg
No Steyer
No Cuban
And especially No Trump

[Piratedog]

37. Oh for f$;$ sack.

I’m so tired of this argument.

[Amishman]

40. Then have it again. No billionaires

Not only are there huge concerns about where their priorities are, but they have zero understanding how how actual Americans live.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

13. Stop Bush? You know Bloomberg supported Bush over our nominee John Kerry, yes?

[jcmaine72]

28. Shhhhh!

He has a (D) next to his name now, so his support for Dumbya (both times), the Iraq War, along with the countless civil rights violations that non-whites were subjected to under his once beloved Stop & Frisk program, are now all forgotten. After all, that's why pencils have erasers, and what paid advertising (tens of millions of dollars worth) is for.

[LanternWaste]

18. Bloom's little more than the flavor of the week. Also an inconvenient truth.

(well, no more an absolute truth than was yours-- i.e., unsupported editorials lacking objective data to support the premise)

In 1975, Pet Rocks had broad support too, but Stretch Armstrong and the Easy Bake Oven were both patient and held out for the long run, winning the Christmas sales numbers.

[Blue_true]

31. I am a left-center democrat.

So I sit fairly far from both you and Bloomberg. I am somewhere between Biden and Warren, closer to Warren in politics. Though left, I am very uncomfortable with Bernie, I don't view much of what he is offering as achievable. But I will support 100% and vote for whoever wins the nomination.

[Dem4Life1102]

32. Interesting that your name I'd stopbush

yet Bloomberg supported Bush, gave speeches endorsing him and illegally detained people protesting against Bush.

[Piratedog]

36. I would be happy to vote for Bloomberg.

[ismnotwasm]

38. It's freaking me out a little

First, I’m going to support the nominee, period. Bloomberg’s ads are well made, soothing. He’s reaching out and making himself a “I can put us on the right track” persona. Psychologically it’s interesting

I didn’t think he’d have done this well.

[Politicub]

39. He has an x-factor that is attracting people

Yes, he’s spending a lot of money, but so is Tom Steyer and the other front runners. But what sets him apart is that he is gaining forward momentum at a fast pace.

His message is resonating. And I love how he ruthlessly attacks Trump without mincing words.