Plan B Forum

Bloomberg makes preparations for 2020 run

Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is preparing to file paperwork to qualify for the Democratic presidential primary in Alabama, ahead of a Friday deadline. The move would be a first step toward a national campaign, though Bloomberg has not made a final decision to run.

"We now need to finish the job and ensure that Trump is defeated — but Mike is increasingly concerned that the current field of candidates is not well positioned to do that," longtime Bloomberg aide Howard Wolfson said in an email. "If Mike runs he would offer a new choice to Democrats built on a unique record running America’s biggest city, building a business from scratch and taking on some of America’s toughest challenges as a high-impact philanthropist."

Bloomberg has engaged in a will-he-or-won't-he routine for longer than a decade about running for president, but declined to jump in each time. Earlier this year, he was exploring a bid, only to bow out after former Vice President Joe Biden made clear he would run.

"I believe I would defeat Donald Trump in a general election," Bloomberg wrote in March. "But I am clear-eyed about the difficulty of winning the Democratic nomination in such a crowded field."

"He's tired of being the almost-ran," said one former Bloomberg adviser on Thursday after The New York Post reported news of his moves. "Mortality is weighing heavily on him. This is the last time that he can run."

Bloomberg will almost certainly not qualify for the next debate in Atlanta on Nov. 20, and he will likely have to spend tens of millions of dollars in the next few weeks to make the debate stage in December, potentially setting a record for campaign spending in a short amount of time. His current wealth is estimated at $52 billion, per Forbes.

Bloomberg and his money have the potential to scramble the Democratic field, where no clear frontrunner has emerged. He is most similar ideologically with candidates like Biden and South Bend (Indiana) Mayor Pete Buttigieg and could threaten their candidacies or divide their potential voters.

Asked why Bloomberg changed his mind and whether he was underwhelmed by Biden's performance on the trail, an aide said that "it's not about any one candidate."[I'm sorry, I ain't buyin' that...He's getting in because Biden is fading and he's afraid the party is going to nominate someone taking such unpopular left-wing positions that Trump could beat them...a not unfounded fear...]

But the aide added: "He is worried about the state of the Democratic primary campaign and the possibility that we could lose in November. He wants to avoid that more than anything else."

Gob wrote:He's rich enough to buy the presidency.

Lord Jim wrote:[I'm sorry, I ain't buyin' that...He's getting in because Biden is fading and he's afraid the party is going to nominate someone taking such unpopular left-wing positions that Trump could beat them...a not unfounded fear...]

Big RR wrote:The guy honestly think people need him to lead the way.

RayThom wrote:If somehow Bloomberg gets the nomination -- I'm voting for him.

I only hope he's not boneheaded enough to run as a third party candidate if this mission fails.

• • • Another Rich Asshole From New York Runs For President
      
      We're sure this time it'll work out great.

Do you agree with Ray's second sentence (about running as a third party candidate), Jim?