How Bloomberg Is Buying His Way Into the Race

FEATURING BETH ROTMAN – The latest national poll of voter preferences for the Democratic Party primary shows former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg jumping 15 percentage points to second place in the race. Bloomberg has surged past former Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Elizabeth Warren to poll at 19% support now.

He has spent hundreds of millions of dollars of his own limitless resources on ad buys around the country blanketing television stations and online spaces with his face.

But, as journalists dig into his past Bloomberg’s own crass statements and rightwing policies have sown doubt. Yet, a growing number of progressive and liberal organizations and individuals have puzzlingly endorsed Bloomberg for President.

The New York Times over the weekend explained why – Bloomberg has spent billions of dollars supporting causes over many years, and organizations beholden to his charitable giving may be worried about crossing their largest funder.

Beth Rotman, Money in Politics & Ethics Program Director for Common Cause.