Does America want billionaire Bloomberg as president? New poll says he is unpopular
- US billionaire launched his campaign three weeks ago and has already spent US$100 million of TV and digital ads
A Monmouth University poll found about twice as many registered voters rated Bloomberg negatively as positively – 54 per cent unfavourable, 26 per cent favourable.
That margin was significantly worse than for five other Democratic candidates, as well as for President Donald Trump. That same measure hampered Hillary Clinton’s campaign in 2016.
In both the Quinnipiac and Monmouth polls, Bloomberg garnered 5 per cent support nationally for the Democratic nomination, narrowly higher than some other recent polls.
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Bloomberg’s support is within the margin of error of South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg at 8 per cent, Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota at 4 per cent, businessman Andrew Yang at 3 per cent and Senator Corey Booker of New Jersey at 2 per cent.
Yet the negative favourability ratings are a sign Bloomberg may struggle to grow his support among both among Democrats the broader electorate. Since its launch last month, his campaign has spent US$100 million on television and digital ads – more money than all the top-polling Democrats combined – and is simultaneously building out ground operations in 27 states.
“Bloomberg said he got into this race because he wants to defeat Trump, but his campaign kicks off with even lower ratings than the incumbent,” said Monmouth polling director Patrick Murray.
“That is not the most auspicious start, but views of Bloomberg are not as deeply held as they are for Trump, so he has room to shift those opinions.”
The Monmouth poll found leading Democratic candidates also have net negative images but by smaller margins than Bloomberg.
The Monmouth poll is not alone in finding billionaire Bloomberg was unpopular with the broader electorate. A December 1-3 Economist-YouGov poll found 22 per cent of US adults had favourable views of Bloomberg and 47 per cent were unfavourable, while another 31 per cent said they didn’t know.
Bloomberg, the 77-year old founder and majority owner of Bloomberg LP, the parent company of Bloomberg News, is a centrist with deep ties to Wall Street.
He became a Democrat only last year and has been accused by rivals Sanders and Warren of trying to buy the election.
Bloomberg has openly considered a presidential bid before, but as an independent. He declined to enter the 2016 contest only after deciding there was no path to victory without the backing of a major political party.
On Tuesday he spoke at the COP25 global climate summit in Madrid, where he criticised Trump’s decision to abandon the Paris accord.
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Bloomberg, like his rivals for the 2020 Democratic nomination, has said he’d rejoin the Paris pact as president.
It’s rare for a presidential candidate to step onto the international stage before securing the nomination, and virtually unheard of for a candidate to do so in the first month of his or her candidacy.
Earlier this year, Bernie Sanders appeared in Canada to highlight his fight to lower prescription drug costs, while former candidate Beto O’Rourke met with asylum seekers in Mexico. Both men represented states that bordered those countries, however, and there were no formal talks with foreign leaders involved.
Additional reporting by Bloomberg and Associated Press
