***UPDATE*** BREAKING: It's OFFICIAL, Bloomberg will run for president under these conditions...

[Babel_17]

75. Thank you. Rank and file Republican voters aren't rebels

They won't switch en masse to Bloomberg, and those that are rebels are backing Trump and Cruz.

I think Bloomberg is laying the hammer down against Trump and Cruz to make them look even more unelectable. He tossed in the bit about Sanders for cover that this isn't about just them, and that he might really run.

Those that can be flipped from Trump and Cruz might look at Kasich (who the establishment is willing to settle on); he's already looking to beat earlier low expectations in Iowa and New Hampshire. The meme that the Republican establishment and Bloomberg are trying to push is that Trump and Cruz are unelectable. Once they collapse, Bloomberg goes home (with his billion dollars).

And more than the money, he'd hate having to produce all his financial records, and sever his business ties, so he could run. Running a real campaign is an extraordinary venture. And he's thinking of maybe getting into it by March? Too little, too late, rich guy. Sorry. When Trump dares him to enter the primary and meet him head on, he'll look flat. He can't enter, because he'd have to swear their loyalty oath.

He's not viable without a real campaign organization, a real presence around the country, and a groundswell of supporters. "Heart, hear!" from conservative pundits isn't going to get him far.

I do think he might spend 40-50 million setting something up, so he can trash talk and get that covered by the media in a serious way. But that dog will hunt only so long. If he didn't keep ramping things up, his "campaign" would look ludicrous. I doubt Bloomberg is willing to look foolish, or like he was forced out by Trump. So he'll be constantly testing the water, and investing in the process accordingly.

The real risk to his goals is if Trump and Cruz supporters double down in their support. Bloomberg needs to be in the background, and just help indirectly pushing the mantra that Trump and Cruz are unelectable, and will cause the Democrats to win big.

Needless to say, "Billionaire announces Sanders is unacceptable" might be a message Bloomberg would regret.