The first polls released since Bloomberg's entry into the race showed lukewarm support
Photo: Flash 90
oes Michael Bloomberg’s entry into the 2020 Democratic presidential race herald a shake-up? Or will it be regarded as a pointless exercise that hurts the Democrats more than it helps them?
Bloomberg’s logic for running is clear enough: The race is wide open. The front runner, former vice president Joe Biden, is losing ground as doubts are raised over his fitness for the job. Meanwhile, support for progressive candidates Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders now combine to total 50 percent, but many of their views are far outside the mainstream.
This isn’t the first time Bloomberg has flirted with a presidential run. He considered it in 2016, and gave it serious attention again this year before announcing in March that he would not run. But now that Joe Biden looks vulnerable, Bloomberg has likely concluded that an equally moderate but more charismatic candidate like himself could pose a real threat to President Trump
Is he right?
Bloomberg’s late entry into the contest will hurt him. Warren, Sanders, and Biden have set up nationwide campaign operations with dedicated staff and volunteers. It’s true Bloomberg has almost unlimited resources (and he’s already announced he would skip the early primaries in Iowa and New Hampshire) but building up an effective ground operation takes time. Does Bloomberg have the time to build a real campaign? Can generous spending on advertisements make up for his disadvantage?
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