Billionaire Michael Bloomberg, who has officially entered the 2020 Democratic primary field, has spent roughly $34 million across 46 states on advertisements as of Nov. 22, according to data from Advertising Analytics.
“This buy is MASSIVE,” Ben Taber, an analyst for the firm, said in an email to Politico.
“I think its going to be the biggest buy of all time,” he added. The amount would top then-President Barack Obamas $30 million one-week spree in 2012.
The former mayor of New York City “could spend more in one day than other presidential candidates spend in an entire campaigns lifespan,” Fernand Amandi, a Democratic consultant pollster who worked for Obamas campaigns, told the outlet.
“What makes the Bloomberg campaign budget so amazing is that there is no budget. Everything is attainable. … We havent seen a presidential campaign like one that Michael Bloomberg could run.”
Earlier this month, the campaign planned a $100 million advertising campaign; it appears the $34 million is part of that plan.
One ad showed an image of President Donald Trumps Twitter account and said in all capital letters, “A TWEET SHOULDNT THREATEN OUR COUNTRYS SECURITY.”
The new ad buys included one in West Palm Beach, Florida, where Trumps Mar-a-Lago club is located, and one in Dallas. The ad, a one-minute long portion taken from Bloombergs announcement video, includes criticism of Medicare for All, a socialist proposal thats championed by a number of Democratic candidates.
“Everyone without health insurance can get it and everyone who likes theirs keep it,” it states. It also says Bloomberg is a “job creator” and a “leader” who can solve problems.
While the buy is large, some said it might not help Bloomberg that much.
“TV spending isnt everything,” Kevin Cate, a consultant to Democratic candidate and billionaire Tom Steyer, wrote on Twitter. “Earned media is king in presidential campaigns. I ran a one week @criticalmention report on Elizabeth Warrens TV coverage — & it came out to about 3x the monetary value of this [Bloomberg] buy.”
Rivals and other Democrats have also criticized the massive purchase, including Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.).
