Mike Bloomberg Loving What This Iowa Caucus Debacle Has Done for His Candidacy

Since jumping into the Democratic primary last November, Mike Bloomberg has spent more than $300 million of his own money in what many have viewed as a vain attempt to win the nomination. Among those people thinking the three-time mayor has little-to-no shot? Up until recently, apparently Bloomberg himself! According to the Washington Post, in the wake of Monday night’s Iowa disaster, the billionaire “authorized his advisers Tuesday morning to double television spending for his own presidential campaign, as his advisers have become more bullish on his odds of success.” In other words, the more than a quarter of a billion dollars spent up to this point was primarily for the purposes of making Donald Trump’s life hell and proverbial shits and giggles. But now that Daddy Warbucks actually thinks he has a chance, he’s cranking the money spigot to full-blast:

The increase, from 1,200 gross ratings points in all targeted markets to 2,400 gross rating points, represents a massive escalation of what is already the most costly campaign for the Democratic nomination in U.S. history. Bloomberg’s presidential strategy is dependent on a chaotic result in the first four Democratic nominating states, where he is not competing, a result Bloomberg advisers believe they achieved in Iowa on Monday.

Since entering the race in November, Bloomberg has spent more than $300 million on television and digital advertising, according to Ad Analytics, an ad tracking firm…. Bloomberg told a noontime crowd in Detroit Tuesday that he was sleeping on a plane last night when he awoke and asked an aide about the results in Iowa. “The guy said, ‘Nothing.’ I still can’t figure out what happened,” he said to laughter, before adding: “More than any other candidate, we have the momentum.”

In a statement, Bloomberg senior adviser Howard Wolfson told the Washington Post that the colossal disaster for the Democratic Party “is the best-case scenario,” which is kind of a weird way of looking at it, particularly among those who worry the events of Monday night will only embolden Republicans. “After a year of running, the field is as unsettled as ever,” he said. “No one has made the sale or even come close to it. Meanwhile, we are taking the fight to Trump every day.” Which checks out:

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