When Donald Trump came from behind to win the Republican nomination, and then the Presidency, in 2016, it appears the billionaire class took notice. How else to explain two billionaires (Steyer and Bloomberg) running for the Democrat nomination this year?
The advantages of being able to self-finance a primary campaign were/are obvious. You spend your valuable time campaigning instead of fund-raising, and you end up beholden to fewer people who have a claim on your loyalties and your ear. Maybe as important, you don’t have your strings pulled by the party’s national committee.
What neither Steyer or Bloomberg chose to reflect upon is wealthy Trump’s other yuge advantage: a very successful second career in show business. Neither has the performance skills Trump spent over a decade honing.
I’m sure Bloomberg believed running for mayor in New York City was adequate prep for a presidential run; so far it seems not to have been much help. We’ll know more after Super Tuesday.
I hope Steyer has had fun running. He has spent lavishly but hasn’t managed to convince many voters he is “the one.”
