During the Democratic Debate on Tuesday, Mike Bloomberg’s campaign engaged in some rather bizarre attention-seeking. Bloomberg, the billionaire former mayor who entered the Democratic presidential race late and has already spent almost as much money as every other candidate combined, did not qualify for the last debate before the Iowa caucuses next month, and his campaign was clearly jealous of the Democrats who did.
The “Team Bloomberg” Twitter account (@Mike2020) issued a series of attention-grabbing statements, starting with the reiteration of a promise to “tweet” “fun stuff” — nay, “the best stuff.”
“We promised to tweet stuff. We promised fun stuff. We promised the best stuff. Here we go,” the campaign tweeted.
We promised to tweet stuff. We promised fun stuff. We promised the best stuff. Here we go. #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/pFX0mNulzt
— Team Bloomberg (@Mike2020) January 15, 2020
The campaign began to tweet a list of #BloombergFacts clearly designed to grab attention.
“As a child, Mike was in the Boy Scouts. So, he wasn’t always the crazy, wild man you see today,” Team Bloomberg tweeted.
As a child, Mike was in the Boy Scouts. So, he wasn’t always the crazy, wild man you see today. #BloombergFacts #DemDebate
— Team Bloomberg (@Mike2020) January 15, 2020
After some true, rudimentary facts about the candidate, the campaign jumped to a Batman comparison.
“Like Bruce Wayne, Mike is a cosmopolitan philanthropist. As far as whether Mike dons a disguise to fight crime at night, we are legally not allowed to say,” Team Bloomberg tweeted.
Like Bruce Wayne, Mike is a cosmopolitan philanthropist. As far as whether Mike dons a disguise to fight crime at night, we are legally not allowed to say. #BloombergFacts #DemDebate
— Team Bloomberg (@Mike2020) January 15, 2020
Then came the meatball with Mike Bloomberg’s face.
Test your political knowledge:
SPOT THE MEATBALL THAT LOOKS LIKE MIKE. pic.twitter.com/CkzdgwpzdI— Team Bloomberg (@Mike2020) January 15, 2020
That image later became the profile picture of the campaign Twitter account.
In the unlikely event Bloomberg ever becomes president, his Secret Service code name will be “Brad Pitt.”
Let’s make this a little more interactive.
HELP MIKE PICK HIS SECRET SERVICE CODENAME:— Team Bloomberg (@Mike2020) January 15, 2020
The cash-strapped billionaire once accepted a Bed, Bath & Beyond coupon, for… Swiffer refills. No, Swiffer did not retweet this.
Mike has never taken a penny in campaign donations, but did once accept a Bed, Bath & Beyond coupon because he needed @Swiffer refills. #BloombergFacts #DemDebate
— Team Bloomberg (@Mike2020) January 15, 2020
The campaign posed serious policy questions, such as, “IN ADDITION TO AN OPEN OFFICE CONCEPT EAST ROOM, WHAT OTHER CHANGE SHOULD MIKE IMPLEMENT?” The options: Situation Room Omelet Bar, Treadmill Desk in the Oval Office, Map Room Mechanical Bull, Swim-Up Bar in the Potomac. Yes, Team Bloomberg included images.
IN ADDITION TO AN OPEN OFFICE CONCEPT EAST ROOM, WHAT OTHER CHANGE SHOULD MIKE IMPLEMENT?
Situation Room Omelet Bar
Treadmill Desk in the Oval Office
Map Room Mechanical Bull
Swim-Up Bar in the Potomac pic.twitter.com/IZW9OkLnPh— Team Bloomberg (@Mike2020) January 15, 2020
How dare Bloomberg attack my Hawaiian pizza!
Mike advised people to eat less salt, because it leads to hypertension. He also advised people to stop eating pineapple on pizza, because it’s disgusting. #BloombergFacts #DemDebate
— Team Bloomberg (@Mike2020) January 15, 2020
Many Democrats have been complaining that the primary field lacks diversity. Well, Mike Bloomberg would be the first president with functioning gills! Top that. Sorry, Chester Arthur. (I know, I know, Harry Potter beat him to it. But that was all Neville’s fault!)
By defeating Donald Trump in November, Mike would become our first president with functioning gills. (Chester A. Arthur had gills, but they were non-functional.) #BloombergFacts #DemDebate
— Team Bloomberg (@Mike2020) January 15, 2020
Isn’t this “cultural appropriation”?
Your opinion is important to us!
Which novelty veto stamp should Mike use as president? pic.twitter.com/uRjraM0FW9— Team Bloomberg (@Mike2020) January 15, 2020
Team Bloomberg started disseminating “facts” about the debate that were … less than truthful. Where’s PolitiFact when you need them?!
Much like a real wolf, debate moderator Wolf Blitzer can devour an elk carcass in one sitting. #DebateFacts #DemDebate
— Team Bloomberg (@Mike2020) January 15, 2020
Also, the former New York mayor is Aquaman, just so you know.
Mike can telepathically communicate with dolphins. #BloombergFacts #DemDebate
— Team Bloomberg (@Mike2020) January 15, 2020
Culinary lies are still lies, Bloomberg campaign!
Mike has eaten clams casino for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day for the past 30 years. #BloombergFacts #DemDebate
— Team Bloomberg (@Mike2020) January 15, 2020
At least former Mayor Bloomberg never bought into the ridiculous “round Earth” conspiracy theory…
Mike has a deep respect for facts and science, except for the ridiculous “round Earth” conspiracy theory. #BloombergFacts #DemDebate
— Team Bloomberg (@Mike2020) January 15, 2020
Yes, many of these tweets are fun, if not hilarious, and you’re probably wondering where the bizarre ones are.
There were two tweets the Bloomberg campaign decided were too embarrassing to leave on the internet. Don’t worry, though, intrepid reporters like The Washington Examiner‘s Emily Larsen preserved them for all eternity.
“When choosing your candidate, remember…Mike can fit nine D batteries in his mouth at one time,” Team Bloomberg tweeted. Um… Okay?
But it gets even more bizarre. “UPDATE: as of last night, it’s now up to 11.”
Michael Bloomberg's presidential campaign is making up for his absence on the debate stage by staging a series of bizarre joke tweets and putting his face on a meatball.
One of the jokes apparently went too far and has been deleted. https://t.co/iDJajmGoyY pic.twitter.com/WJaM8SuPon
— Emily Larsen (@emilyelarsen) January 15, 2020
So, Meatball-Batman-Aquaman likes putting … batteries?!?!?! … into his mouth.
Many of these tweets were more fun than bizarre, but that’s just weird. I was totally on board with this Bloomberg guy — he may hate soda, but at least some staffers on his campaign have got some fun personality! But batteries are just a bridge too far for me, personally.
It’s a real shame. *Sigh* I really wanted that pop-up bar on the Potomac!
Follow Tyler O’Neil, the author of this article, on Twitter at @Tyler2ONeil.
