Press: Another billionaire need not apply

It’s one of the oldest jokes in Washington, and it’s true. Every day, every member of the Senate wakes up, looks in the mirror and says to themselves: “Why not me? I could be president of the United States.” Well, now we know self-delusion’s not limited to senators. It affects former mayors, too.

Last week, Michael Bloomberg looked in the mirror and said to himself: “There’s over a dozen Democrats still running for president. They are progressives and moderates, men and women, governors, senators, members of Congress, businessmen and mayors. But I’m better than anyone of them. Why not me?” 

So, as he’s done numerous times in the past, Bloomberg announced he’s considering jumping into the Democratic primary for 2020, even though in March he admitted that starting “a four-year job at 79 may not be the smartest thing to do.” Now he’s says he’s changed his mind because he’s not sure any of the current 2020 candidates can beat President Trump, but he can. And, if he runs, he’ll spend whatever it takes to win, skipping the first four state contests to make his stand on Super Tuesday, March 3, when 16 states, including delegate-rich California, hold their primaries.

OK, let’s all agree: Bloomberg’s a good man who was a reasonably good mayor of New York and has been remarkably generous in supporting progressive public policy initiatives, especially on gun safety and climate change. 

He’d be a far, far better president than clown Trump. But, with all due respect, when it comes to running for president now, Bloomberg should take another look. His mirror is cracked.

First of all, what does Bloomberg bring to the Democratic primary that’s not already there? He wouldn’t be the first white male, first businessman, first moderate, first billionaire or first New York City mayor. He wouldn’t even be the first one whose last name starts with “B.”

According to aides, Bloomberg believes he must run because he’s afraid none of the other candidates could beat Trump. Now, of course, he’s not alone in believing that. Democrats are notorious “bed-wetters,” who are never happier than when rattling their worry beads. But there’s no evidence to fuel that fear. In the latest match-up, according to RealClearPolitics, all five leading Democratic candidates would beat Trump handily: former Vice President Joe Biden by 17 points; Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) by 15; Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) by 14; South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg by 11; and Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) by  9.

Reportedly, Bloomberg also fears the Democratic Party might veer too far left by nominating Sanders or Warren. That may or not be the case. But, even if it is, even if a middle-of-the-road candidate is needed to win key swing states, there’s no lack of solid moderates among the existing field of Democratic candidates, including Biden, Buttigieg, Harris, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (Minn.), Sen. Michael Bennet (Colo.) and Montana Gov. Steve Bullock. 

Finally, if he’s really serious about skipping Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina in order to focus on Super Tuesday, someone should remind Bloomberg that Rudy Giuliani, another former mayor of New York, tried that same late-comer strategy in 2008. How did that work out?

Had he started earlier, Bloomberg would have a strong case to make. But by jumping in now — just because he believes he’s better than anybody else running — he’d alienate both moderates and progressives and sour the entire populist, pro-middle class message of the Democratic primary. The last thing the Democratic Party needs is another Wall Street billionaire trying to buy the nomination.

Press is host of “The Bill Press Pod.” He is author of “From the Left: A Life in the Crossfire.”