In our Washington Post column, Paul Goldman and I marvel at the millions Michael Bloomberg is showering on two Virginia Senate races:
The idea that Bloomberg’s forces didn’t first check to see if their presence would be welcomed strains credulity, not to mention personal experience.
Mr. Parker has helped Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s (D) political PAC, which supported Gecker. The disclaimer on the TV ad (“Paid for by Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund. Authorized by Dan Gecker, candidate for State Senate.”) further suggests there is, as the saying goes, a lot more going around in the dark here besides Santa Claus. The governor didn’t deny recruiting Bloomberg’s money.
We get it: Bloomberg is using Gecker to make a larger point. Virginia is a Southern state. Southern lawmakers have resisted the Bloomberg gun agenda. A high-profile win attributed to the New Yorker’s record campaign contribution would give him new national swagger, a big thing with billionaires, as Mr. Trump has taught us.
There is no reason to hide it. But a Virginia voter backlash to out-of-state groups attacking our laws has happened before. This potential supports the view that Gecker’s camp believed it had to change the campaign narrative or face defeat.
Everytown’s spokeswoman told The Post’s Laura Vozzella it “has already put down $370,000 for network TV, and more network ad time is in the process of being purchased. The rest will be spent on cable, radio and digital.”
If Bloomberg can buy all that airtime, it will turn the Richmond media market into gun central.
But spending it all on political ads and none on get-out-the-vote efforts defies common sense.
If your intent is shock and awe, then it makes perfect sense to dump gaudy amounts of cash into the 10th and 29th district races.
If your intent is to win, however, that money would be spent on some ads, some mail, and a lot of get out the vote.
