Given the record of the businessman who claims to be a billionaire and currently occupies the White House, one would think that the voting public would be very leery of candidates claiming they can translate their business experience into a successful presidency.  However, while some candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination rail against big money in politics, at the other end of the spectrum we have two billionaire businessmen trying to buy the nomination.

Tom Steyer and Michael Bloomberg have already spent over $200 Million of their own money on television and digital ads and that doesn’t include the additional millions they have spent on the other aspects of their campaigns.  Bloomberg, who is reportedly worth $52.4 Billion, has spent only a tiny portion of his wealth, $120 Million, on ad buys thus far.  Steyer, who is worth a measly $1.6 Billion. has spent $83 Million on TV advertisements thus far, but that doesn’t count the millions he spent on the impeachment ads which he used to set himself up for a presidential run.  By comparison Pete Buttigieg, who has spent the third most on advertisements, has spent only $19 Million.

Now maybe I am alone on this, but I don’t believe that wealthy individuals should be able to buy any position the way they would buy another mansion or a Rolls Royce Phantom.  And I certainly believe they shouldn’t be able to buy the nomination of one of the two major parties for the most powerful position in the world.   In addition, you can bet that, like Trump, if they win the nomination they will expect party contributors like you and me to fund their general election campaign.

For the time being I can take some solace in the fact that so far their money isn’t buying much. Bloomberg is polling nationally at about 5% while Steyer is only at 1.5%.  Bloomberg has spent heavily in the big delegate states of Texas and California, reportedly spending $13 Million on TV ads in each of those two states. Again the results have not been spectacular.  In Texas Bloomberg only managed to get 5% in the latest poll; he lags behind Biden (35%), Sanders (15%), Warren (13%) and Buttigieg (9%).  He also comes in at 5% in the latest California poll behind Warren (21%), Sanders (19%), Biden (19%) and Buttigieg (13%).  Steyer only polled 2% in Texas and 1% in California.

Maybe that means that besides love, the Democratic nomination is also something money can’t buy.

Cajun      12/26/2019.