(CN) — Billionaire, philanthropist, former New York mayor and Democratic presidential hopeful Mike Bloomberg is optimistic ahead of Super Tuesday, when voters in 14 states cast their ballots.
One of the richest people in the world, Bloomberg has said his campaign is an effort to oust President Donald Trump from office using an undeniably powerful currency: cash. He’s running as a moderate in the Democratic presidential primary and now faces off with former Vice President Joe Biden for the party’s less liberal vote.
Former South Bend, Indiana, mayor Pete Buttigieg, also a moderate, abruptly departed the race Sunday following the South Carolina primary, citing a desire not to further divide the party, acknowledging that Democrats’ defeat of President Trump is his top priority.
Bloomberg’s late entry into the race shouldn’t be confused with a lack of desire to win, experts say, and he has sworn to continue his campaign regardless of the Super Tuesday outcome. Polls have him placing second or third in Texas and third in North Carolina, Virginia, and Massachusetts.
“I think Mike Bloomberg, as he said in [the last] debate … he’s been praying for this job for a long time,” said Ravi Perry, professor and chair of the political science department at Howard University, in a phone interview.
Bloomberg, who entered the race last November, essentially bought his way to a strong start by spending over half a billion dollars in advertising by Feb. 24, according to his own news company. He dropped on average $5.6 million on ads per day, the reporters found.
Though Bloomberg had just 3% support when he joined the race, he now sits at fourth in the polls at 12%, behind lefty leader Bernie Sanders, Biden, and Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren.
“He has a fantastic team and terrific ads. If that was all it took to become president, he’d be in great shape,” said Alexandra Acker-Lyons, a longtime political consultant and commentator, of Bloomberg in a phone interview last week.
While Boomberg struggled in his first televised debate, his performance improved in the next one, Acker-Lyons said.
“He doesn’t have good answers to predictable questions, and … is used to having his own way. He is used to being an executive, and is used to being the CEO,” she said.
When asked how Bloomberg could perform poorly given his stellar team and questions he could prepare for, Acker-Lyons did not mince words.
“It’s him,” she said, later adding: “You can give someone the best advice in the world, but that doesn’t mean they’re going to take it.”
Acker-Lyons said she does not think Bloomberg has shown what she called “that intangible presidential something.”
Howard University’s Perry, however, pointed out that Bloomberg, and moderate Buttigieg, have at least one advantage with some black voters.
“I think while Warren and Sanders have a message that resonates with African-Americans, African-Americans are also pragmatic in that they want to see material and improved conditions of their lives day to day,” Perry said.