Bloomberg to go large in Illinois
Thursday, Dec 19, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Lynn Sweet…
Billionaire ex-New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a late entry in the crowded Democratic presidential race, will make up for lost time by jumping in the March Illinois primary with a top team of five state political veterans eventually overseeing at least 50 political operatives working out of 10 offices statewide.
This is the biggest Illinois presidential paid start up in decades and will dwarf the paid operations of Bloomberg’s 2020 rivals when it comes to Illinois. U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders have robust volunteer organizations driven through social media. South Bend Mayor Peter Buttitieg has a satellite headquarters office in the South Loop, focused on his national campaign.
Bloomberg campaign field offices will open in Chicago, Waukegan and other suburbs, Springfield, Metro East, Rockford and Rock Island, according to Tom Bowen, the Chicago political consultant who is Bloomberg’s senior adviser in Illinois.
Bloomberg is not focusing on the February states with the first presidential votes — Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada — instead vaulting to the delegate-rich states with primary and caucus votes in March.
This sort of late entry thing has never been successful in modern times. So, we’ll see.
Another billionaire, JB Pritzker, won the Democratic primary here, but he put much (not all) of his focus on wooing African-American voters and organized labor. Can Bloomberg do that? Especially after the other candidates have been put through the ringer in early states?
I guess we’ll find out. Either way, congrats to his new Illinois staff (click here for the list). Considering his gigantic TV ad buys so far, I’m sure he pays pretty well.
- Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Dec 19, 19 @ 12:10 pm:
Maybe his candidacy will inspire yet yet another hypocritical liberal billionaire to enter the race.
No danger of Bloomberg News uncovering any corruption in his or any of the other Democratic campaigns.
- MOON - Thursday, Dec 19, 19 @ 12:11 pm:
Go Large Then Go Home !
- Shytown - Thursday, Dec 19, 19 @ 12:15 pm:
Well…that campaign’s definitely going nowhere in Illinois.
- Rutro - Thursday, Dec 19, 19 @ 12:17 pm:
I don’t think it will work, but welcome to Illinois, spend as much as you want!
- Groucho - Thursday, Dec 19, 19 @ 12:18 pm:
He has my vote.
- Steve - Thursday, Dec 19, 19 @ 12:48 pm:
Bloomberg’s problem is his political views aren’t in sync with a majority of Democrat party voters. You can spend all the money you want.
- Excitable Boy - Thursday, Dec 19, 19 @ 12:50 pm:
So glad to see Bowen connecting with another champion of the common person. I’d be even more glad to see him follow him back to New York after this ego trip is over.
- Amateurs dude - Thursday, Dec 19, 19 @ 12:51 pm:
Kara Highfill is an awesome choice for his team. She’s bright, diligent, and a very hard worker.
- Sue - Thursday, Dec 19, 19 @ 12:58 pm:
Don’t underestimate in the absence of a Republican primary- a large number of R’s voting for Bloomberg in order to spoil the Democratic race.
- Cannon649 - Thursday, Dec 19, 19 @ 1:04 pm:
As a business person, he should realize shortly he does not have a chance. How much will he spend before it he not making any progress?
- Nieva - Thursday, Dec 19, 19 @ 1:06 pm:
Come to Gallatin County and try shutting off our supply of 64 oz. bladder busters and see how that works out for you.
- Sayitaintso - Thursday, Dec 19, 19 @ 1:12 pm:
Alert to Bloomberg Team: Kent Gray is available. For anything. Anything.
- WSJ Paywall - Thursday, Dec 19, 19 @ 1:13 pm:
The people most excited about Bloomberg’s candidacy? Trib editorial board, now they can make another Johnson-level embarrassing endorsement.
- Happy - Thursday, Dec 19, 19 @ 1:14 pm:
Kara Highfill has to be thrilled about leaving Cook County Commissioner Scott Britton. Fellow seems to be 9 cents short of a dime.
- Stones - Thursday, Dec 19, 19 @ 1:15 pm:
Bloomberg is more heavily saturated than an other Democrat in Florida. Probably as much as Trump is here.
- Nuke the Whales - Thursday, Dec 19, 19 @ 1:18 pm:
==Considering his gigantic TV ad buys so far, I’m sure he pays pretty well.==
I heard Bloomberg is paying $6 per signature which is impressive until you realize that means you’re getting paid $2 per hour.
Is their space in the Democratic primary for a wealthy businessman? Absolutely (see Dayton, Mark and Pritzker, J.B. for further information).
Is that space best filled by scolding voters who disagree with that approach? Certainly one thing voters love is being talked down to by the super-wealthy.
- Responsa - Thursday, Dec 19, 19 @ 1:26 pm:
Bloomberg sure seems more like a needy politician in search of a constituency rather than a candidate responding to left leaning voters demanding that he get into the race. I truly do not understand what he is doing. Or why.
- Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Dec 19, 19 @ 1:50 pm:
I truly do not understand what he is doing. Or why.
Check the polls.
Trump is beating all of the Democrats running currently despite the fact he was impeached yesterday.
https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/polls/president-general/
- NIU Grad - Thursday, Dec 19, 19 @ 1:51 pm:
Taking his predecessor’s presidential campaign strategy and replacing Florida with Illinois…that worked out well.
- Ducky LaMoore - Thursday, Dec 19, 19 @ 2:00 pm:
Well, if his strategy is partially successful, that will no doubt insure a Bernie or Warren nomination. Smart moves, Mike….
- Dance Band on the Titanic - Thursday, Dec 19, 19 @ 2:05 pm:
- Sue - Thursday, Dec 19, 19 @ 12:58 pm:
Don’t underestimate in the absence of a Republican primary-
Isn’t former Congressman Joe Walsh was running in the primary?
- Da Big Bad Wolf - Thursday, Dec 19, 19 @ 2:05 pm:
== Don’t underestimate in the absence of a Republican primary- a large number of R’s voting for Bloomberg in order to spoil the Democratic race.==
There’s no Republican primary in Illinois?
- JIbba - Thursday, Dec 19, 19 @ 2:18 pm:
LP. did you actually read the 538 page? Latest polls show everyone beating Trump.
- @misterjayem - Thursday, Dec 19, 19 @ 2:24 pm:
“Check the polls. Trump is beating all of the Democrats running currently despite the fact he was impeached yesterday.”
The most recent poll at link that you shared shows:
Not honest or not smart.
Perhaps both.
– MrJM
- Techie - Thursday, Dec 19, 19 @ 3:08 pm:
Bloomberg already has the highest disapproval rating of any candidate according to Morning Consult, the poll with the largest sample size of all current polling organizations.
Save your money and stay out of this. Unconstitutional stop-and-frisk, poor management of other city affairs, and misogyny don’t look good on you.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Dec 19, 19 @ 3:24 pm:
===the poll with the largest sample size of all current polling organizations.===
Means nothing.
- Downstate - Thursday, Dec 19, 19 @ 3:53 pm:
“Considering his gigantic TV ad buys so far..”
In all seriousness, I only turn on TV to watch football, otherwise it’s Netflix and Hulu.
When commercials come on, I pick up my Ipad-always looking at updates on Capitol Fax
I wonder how diminished is the impact of today’s TV advertising dollars?
- Da Lobsta - Thursday, Dec 19, 19 @ 4:35 pm:
What is it about billionaires and Illinois?
- Farm Boy - Thursday, Dec 19, 19 @ 5:37 pm:
Not a single downstater on his Illinois team…
- Plutocrat03 - Thursday, Dec 19, 19 @ 7:36 pm:
Illinois will not be where the election is decided. The monolithic support to the Democratic Party is baked in.
All show and tell…..
- Excitable Boy - Thursday, Dec 19, 19 @ 8:23 pm:
- Illinois will not be where the election is decided -
This is for the Democratic Primary, genius.