Trump Vs. Bloomberg: US Awaits Battle of the Titans

Beyond the circle of Democratic Party insiders, the overwhelming reality of the 2020 presidential race is that, in the eyes of the American public at large, the contest has already moved past the primary stage.

Focusing on anything else than the main event of 2020, the no-holds-barred brawl pitting Donald J. Trump vs. Michael R. Bloomberg is seen as a side show that’s wasting their precious time.

Mike Bloomberg and the real dwarves

To be sure, Bloomberg performed rather poorly in the Nevada debate. But that won’t matter in the long haul. Trained by the crassly commercial, pseudo-heroic logic of Hollywood, the American viewing public is lusting for the 2020 edition of “The Gladiator.” And that means the match of Trump vs. Bloomberg.

That finding may cause conniptions among Bernie Sanders and his (mostly male) support troops. But the fact that he appeals to maybe 20% of Americans only means one thing: His selection as the Democratic candidate would mean Trump’s reelection. For the Democrats, it would at best be another McGovern moment.

Money in politics: Get real

With regard to charges that Bloomberg is trying to “buy” the election, I can only suggest to think twice. Those charges are going to intrigue only a small set of party insiders.

Strange as that may seem to Europeans, but certainly not Chinese, the American public actually likes money and respects those who have it. Irrespective of their level of income, most of them are capitalists.

And, from longstanding experience, Americans know that money always plays a role in American politics.

Complaining about money in American politics is about as naïve as asking to eat hamburgers without buns.

Moreover, the complaints of the Democrats’ dwarves about Bloomberg “buying” the election amounts to a serious insult to each and every American voter. After all, the implication is the voters can be bought.

The national credo

Now, Americans would certainly be the first to admit that they can be influenced by ad campaigns. That, in a way, is their national credo. It is what politicians are expected to do as a matter of courtship.

But being bought? Most Americans would resolutely reject that claim when it comes to their individual behavior, no matter how much money is thrown at them.

Americans are also far more pragmatic than the sanctimonious chorus of Bloomberg defeaters. What on earth is wrong, many people will ask, with a Democrat who is so determined to defeat Trump that he spends a considerable share of his personal wealth on the effort?

As Bloomberg is going to repeat ad infinitum, who can therefore claim that he is beholden to other people’s commercial interests or sponsors?

In a way, the Democratic primaries of 2020 are a replay of the Republican primary race in 2016: Trump then and Bloomberg now succeed because they have a better, more level-headed read on the American people than the entire field of their respective contenders.

Making it tougher for Trump

But in terms of a broader national campaign, all the attacks on Bloomberg rendered by his Democratic Party contestants only mean one thing. The sting that such charges could bring electorally if they were introduced to the public at large during the general campaign is already gone.

For once, the famous saying – that the Democrats’ form of a firing squad is a circle – does not seem to apply.

Bloomberg will get better

The natural logic of drama will work in Bloomberg’s favor. Because most of his competitors in the primaries piled on so much, they have already fired a lot of their ammunition.

To be sure, they will try very hard to keep going after the same questions. But the Democrats’ real dwarves suffer from a serious miscalculation. As distasteful and improper Bloomberg’s behavior has undoubtedly been at times in the past, the party is trying to select the person with the best chances to beat Trump.

Conclusion: Message to Democrats

And Trump’s own behavior has dulled Americans’ sense of inappropriate behavior to the point that they would say to Sanders, Warren & Co. “Get over it. Don’t try to select a saint. And, if you do, that person is going to lose against the forever wily Mr. Trump.”