Mike Bloomberg wins the Democratic spotlight and the derision of his rivals

[Zorro]

The 12th richest person in the world decided to bet more than $500 million late last year on the long-shot notion that Democrats would defy history and fail to elevate a front-runner after Iowa and New Hampshire's nominating contests.

Three months later, Mike Bloomberg’s jackpot is about to come due, as the former New York mayor, who has yet to appear on a ballot, emerges from the chaos of early February as a legitimate contender for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Bloomberg has benefited from a cascade of good luck — a botched and inconclusive Iowa caucuses process, the collapse of the former vice president Joe Biden’s polling dominance and the Democratic Party chairman’s decision to provide the mayor a path to the next debate. His potential to reshape the race has led his Democratic opponents, as well as President Trump, to begin focusing on him in earnest, even though he is not contesting Nevada and South Carolina, the next two states to vote.

“You have a billionaire literally trying to buy an election and that’s not the politics we believe in,” said Ari Rabin-Havt, deputy campaign manager for Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). Sanders called Bloomberg’s self-funded candidacy “precisely what the corruption of the American political system is all about” during a Saturday stop in Dover, N.H.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/mike-bloomberg-wins-the-democratic-spotlight-and-the-derision-of-his-rivals/2020/02/12/267b6740-4cd8-11ea-b721-9f4cdc90bc1c_story.html

[left-of-center2012]

1. A laughable 'hit piece' ?

A lot of quotes in it from the Sanders and Warren campaigns.

[jimfields33]

2. In all honesty, are you seriously ok with the 12th riches person in the world

Buying the election? If this is what happens then I’d expect this to be the norm and forget a measly millionaire to compete. We have 607 billionaires in the country. That’d take us easily to 2100.

[Kaleva]

3. He's clearly using his wealth in taking the fight to Trump

It does look like quite a few here don't have a problem with that.

Plus he's donating millions to down ticket Dems. Bloomberg being self financed frees up donations to go to candidates in critical races.

[jimfields33]

5. He can do all of that without running for President

I mean look at AOC. She pretty much campaigning with Bernie. I think Bloomberg could pick anyone of them and do the same.

[Kaleva]

8. Actually no.

No other candidate can self finance a presidential campaign which costs a great deal meaning they will need considerable amounts of campaign contributions. Money that could have gone to down ticket Dems in critical races.

[Squinch]

10. Why should he?

[msongs]

4. gee like the bernie camp is not bragging about how much cash it's raking in lololol nt

[jimfields33]

6. We brought more in them Bloomberg!!!!!

And that’s a FACT.

[Bradical79]

7. Today I learned that a man with over $65,000,000,000...

...isn't even in the top 10 of wealtheist people in the world. Disgusting.

[jimfields33]

9. Totally!!!!!!!

[jcmaine72]

11. I also learned today that a man who once championed Stop-And-Frisk....

.....a program in which literally thousands of African-Americans and other POC had their civil rights blatantly violated (as per a federal judge), is now somehow a civil rights champion.

I betcha with enough $$$ spread around, Mr. Bloomberg can assert the moon is made of gorgonzola cheese and he'll receive a round of applause for it.

Hey, does anyone else remember when billionaire oligarch 1%'ers who try to buy our elections weren't so popular around here?

Yeah, me too.