Michael Bloomberg Is Open to Spending $1 Billion to Defeat Trump

New York Times ^ | January 11, 2020 | Lisa Lerer

[karpov]

SAN MARCOS, Texas — Michael R. Bloomberg on Saturday did not rule out spending a billion dollars of his own money on the 2020 presidential race, even if he does not win the Democratic nomination, and said he would mobilize his well-financed political operation to help Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren win in November if either is the party nominee, despite their sharp policy differences.

Mr. Bloomberg’s plans would effectively create a shadow campaign operation for the general election, complete with hundreds of organizers in key battleground states and a robust digital operation, ready to be inherited by the party nominee — regardless of who that nominee may be.

Already, Mr. Bloomberg has spent more than $200 million on advertising, putting him on pace to spend by early March about the same as what President Barack Obama’s campaign spent on advertising over the course of the entire 2012 general election. If Mr. Bloomberg fails to win the nomination, future spending would be redirected toward attacking Mr. Trump.

“It depends whether the candidate needs help; if they’re doing very well, they need less. If they’re not, they’ll need more,” he said in an interview after a lunch stop at a barbecue restaurant during a campaign swing through Texas.

While he did not rule out dropping a billion dollars on his effort, the former mayor of New York City blanched slightly at the size of the number, before mentioning the $2.8 billion he spent on charitable contributions last year, with the bulk going to his alma mater, Johns Hopkins University.

“You know how much money a billion dollars is?” said Mr. Bloomberg. “It’s a lot of money to me. It’s a lot of money to anybody.”

[catnipman]

“If spending money meant getting votes than Clinton would be president.”

indeed ...

[Truthoverpower]

What kind of attacks do they have left that they haven’t tried ?

[New Jersey Realist]

What do they say about a fool and his money?

[polymuser]

“Pretending to run for President is the only way he would be allowed to contribute a billion dollars to the DemocRAT cause.”

To the DNC, D’rat/progressive PACs and foundations, and for MSM advertising.

[polymuser]

He must have a podium riser in his trunk all the time...

[dragnet2]

If what you say about the media, “The media’s the most powerful entity on earth” and they’re all powerful and influential...How did Trump get elected back int 2016?

And he spent less than an entire short bus full of professional politicians. What’s up with that?

[SunkenCiv]

"What happens to be spent in Vegas, stays in Vegas!"

[WASCWatch]

No amount of money can help Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, or Bloomberg. The more he spends, the more it will hurt the Democrats.

All of Trump’s rallies are broadcast, and people have to register with his campaign. Trump is killing it on social media, and has probably the best organization for communicating and getting out the vote operation, EVER.