Bloomberg tonight just booked another round of broadcast, radio & cable news ads, bringing total traditional paid media buys (not counting all other campaign spending, like IG influencers, $ to state parties/NGOs & cash to Dem allies) to $363 million.
— Lee Fang (@lhfang) February 14, 2020
That's $4.5 million a day.
The degree to which Michael Bloomberg is using his fortune to fundamentally alter & manipulate U.S. politics to his personal advantage extends way beyond ads. I've worked against him, covered him as a journalist & worked with his top aides. Here’s their playbook: (1/17)
— Blake Zeff (@blakezeff) February 13, 2020
But come on, it’s not like he can do that in *this* campaign. Sure he’s compiling a ton of random endorsements nationwide despite merely being a former mayor. But that’s because they loved his soda ban. Or his speaking style. Or...👇 3/17 https://t.co/vupRr0uMqp pic.twitter.com/ZSDzho8YD6
— Blake Zeff (@blakezeff) February 13, 2020
You may also see “community groups” back Mike's candidacy. As mayor, non-profits supported him when he reversed a voter referendum on term limits & made a backroom deal to help himself get a 3rd term. How’d that happen, you ask? He applied himself.👇 5/17 https://t.co/oISYWjWap4
— Blake Zeff (@blakezeff) February 13, 2020
Forget endorsements: This campaign has grassroots support! Mike held events in various states recently & got huge crowds. They were clearly inspired by that “Mike Will Get It Done” energy. But *this* probably didn’t hurt, either...👇 7/17 pic.twitter.com/CzWXR4MMVR
— Blake Zeff (@blakezeff) February 13, 2020
Mike's wealth even affects his rivals’ fundraising. Using his relationships with other rich donors, he’s personally asking them to sit the election out, so his rivals can't raise cash. Because having $61b to spend, versus $20mil for the other Dems, is too close for comfort 9/17 pic.twitter.com/7Nrl8lTmBY
— Blake Zeff (@blakezeff) February 13, 2020
OK, let’s discuss the non-stop ads. Saturating the airwaves gives you the huge advantage of never needing media coverage - which means rarely having to submit to interviews or scrutiny. If they want, they can make sure this👇 never happens again 11/17 https://t.co/7iwvPbrCNc
— Blake Zeff (@blakezeff) February 13, 2020
The issue’s not just that Mike’s ads help him “get his story out more.” It’s that they enable him to *craft* whatever story he wants, blast it to every voter 1000 times, & bypass the media. And if the story takes creative licenses, oh well. How will viewers ever find out? 13/17
— Blake Zeff (@blakezeff) February 13, 2020
For example, they know Mike has real vulnerabilities in the primary on issues & his GOP past. But they also know Dems hate Trump. So, that’s where the campaign turns all its focus. This achieves several things. First, makes him seem “above” the internal primary bickering. 15/17
— Blake Zeff (@blakezeff) February 13, 2020
3 months ago, polls found Mike Bloomberg “widely disliked” with the highest negatives in the race. Now he’s a top 3 contender for the Democratic nomination. One of the richest humans ever is trying to upend every part of the process. And this is just the stuff we know about. /END
— Blake Zeff (@blakezeff) February 13, 2020
