This is my first diary, and I’m writing it because I saw something that so concerned me that I felt I had to write about it. This diary will be short. It is about Mike Bloomberg’s effect on Democrats’ electoral chances up and down the ballot. Ryan Grim has published an article in The Intercept describing how Bloomberg is using his vast resources to poach the best workers from Democrats’ campaigns around the country. The link is here: theintercept.com/… From the article:
The Bloomberg campaign is offering field organizers, or FOs) $6,000 per month and guaranteed pay through November, and many have realized that if they demand more, they will likely get it, according to hiring managers. A typical salary for that position at the state or federal level might be $3,000 to $4,000, and multiple operatives in charge of hiring FOs say they’ve never had a harder time recruiting, and applicants are making extreme demands. Regional organizing directors are being offered $8,000 a month to start, significantly more than typical campaigns.
Rob Quan, a political operative in Los Angeles, is currently consulting for a local city council candidate. “This is hands down the toughest time I’ve ever had finding field staff,” he said. He’s posting jobs for canvassers, paying $18 an hour, and is “getting crickets.”
Ryan Grim suggests that Bloomberg’s actions may have led to a Democrat’s narrow loss in at least one state legislative race (Kos Elections reported on the race), and could affect other races. Candidates can’t win without organizers and boots on the ground, and the vast majority of campaigns can’t afford to match Bloomberg’s salaries.
I can’t help wondering whether Bloomberg is really a Republican mole sabotaging the Democratic Party. He was, after all, a Republican and supported Republican candidates in the past. Please tell me I’m overreacting, but I see this as an existential threat to Democrats. One or more of the other candidates should mention this in the upcoming debate.