Michael Bloomberg’s massive ad buy is a glowing tribute to former President Barack Obama, giving some the false impression that the 44th president made an endorsement.
In the week before the New Hampshire primary, the billionaire former New York City mayor spent $1.2 million on airtime for a 30-second ad that played part of a speech Obama gave about the philanthropist over images of the pair.
“President Barack Obama is someone I was proud to call Commander-in-Chief, and someone I was honored to work with to get big things done,” Bloomberg tweeted.
President Barack Obama is someone I was proud to call Commander-in-Chief, and someone I was honored to work with to get big things done.
I miss that feeling. pic.twitter.com/CNUWTzXtcU
— Mike Bloomberg (@MikeBloomberg) February 5, 2020
Part of the roughly $400 million Bloomberg has so far doled out for messaging on TV, radio, and online since announcing his candidacy last November, the spot leaves viewers with the impression Obama endorsed the media mogul despite staying neutral in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary.
Anecdotal evidence suggests the ad is working. Just ask David Plouffe, Obama’s 2008 campaign manager.
“The power of saturation advertising. Someone at my gym in California asked me why Barack Obama chose Bloomberg over the rest of the field,” Plouffe wrote Wednesday.
The power of saturation advertising. Someone at my gym in California asked me why Barack Obama chose Bloomberg over the rest of the field.
— David Plouffe (@davidplouffe) February 14, 2020
Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics, shared a similar experience this week.
“I keep encountering Dem voters who like Mike Bloomberg because he’s been endorsed by Barack Obama. Fake news and the power of saturation TV ads,” he tweeted.
I keep encountering Dem voters who like Mike Bloomberg because he’s been endorsed by Barack Obama. Fake news and the power of saturation TV ads.
— Larry Sabato (@LarrySabato) February 18, 2020
Bloomberg’s efforts to tie himself to Obama has irked one rival in particular: Obama’s once-No. 2, former Vice President Joe Biden.
The duo clashed ahead of Wednesday night’s debate in Las Vegas, held before Saturday’s Nevada caucuses, with Biden warning Bloomberg to come prepared to discuss how he didn’t wholeheartedly support the Obama administration’s reelection bid. Bloomberg’s team hit back with a video showcasing an old address Biden delivered in which he heaped praise on the former mayor.
Bloomberg is not the only White House hopeful this cycle to employ Obama’s voice to gin up support.
Biden, as well as Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, have all released videos seemingly narrated in part by Obama.
