Bloomberg’s Path to the Nomination

John Ellis: “There are two ways things can go in the ‘electability’ half of the bracket. Biden can win by default… Or he can get crushed in Iowa and New Hampshire by a 37-year-old gay mayor from South Bend, Indiana, and as a result, watch his candidacy collapse. The latter outcome would leave Buttigieg as the commander of the ‘electability’ army, which (assuming the polling is accurate) enjoys an overwhelming numerical advantage over the ‘progressive’ battalions.”

“It’s on the latter scenario that Mr. Bloomberg’s candidacy hinges. His handlers are presuming that having seen Mr. Biden dispatched and Mr. Buttigieg all-but-anointed, the Democratic primary electorate in the Super Tuesday states (and beyond) would recoil with buyer’s remorse and scramble to find a more ‘suitable’ (meaning ‘not gay,’ although no one will ever admit it) replacement.”

“And there waiting for them, with literally billions of dollars ready to spend and open arms, would be Michael Bloomberg: Calm, competent, uncharismatic, efficient, former Republican, ruthless billionaire Michael Bloomberg, with an unholy host of political consultants and pollsters ready, willing and able to fan out across every last cable news show to explain why, beyond a shadow of a doubt, Mike Bloomberg was the most electable Democrat in November.”