26 percent of Democrats think Obama has endorsed Bloomberg. He hasn't.
They say money can't buy happiness, but it seems it can buy a pseudo-endorsement.
A Morning Consult survey released Thursday found that 26 percent of Democratic primary voters believe former President Barack Obama has endorsed former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. There's just one problem with that notion — he hasn't.
Another 25 percent of those surveyed said Obama has endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden, a reasonable assumption given their eight years in office together. But Obama hasn't endorsed Biden, either. In fact, Obama has very purposefully stayed away from the Democratic primary, choosing not to endorse any candidate (though he did demand South Carolina TV networks pull an anti-Biden ad that used his words to "mislead" viewers).
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
So where are voters getting the idea that Bloomberg has Obama's blessing? As Morning Consult notes, Bloomberg's sweeping network of political ads, totaling roughly $410 million, per The New York Times, has sought to tie the former mayor to Obama despite their relatively distant relationship. One ad spot highlights pictures of the two leaders, saying Bloomberg and Obama "worked together" to combat gun violence and improve education. The Washington Post says the Bloomberg-Obama relationship was actually quite "complicated" compared to the ad's portrayal.
"An endorsement from Obama would likely be a game-changer for any of the candidates," writes Morning Consult. Seems Bloomberg's campaign ad omnipresence is helping one candidate change the game for himself.
The Morning Consult poll was conducted Feb. 20-23, surveying 5,969 registered voters online. The survey's margin of error is ±1 percentage point.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Summer Meza has worked at The Week since 2018, serving as a staff writer, a news writer and currently the deputy editor. As a proud news generalist, she edits everything from political punditry and science news to personal finance advice and film reviews. Summer has previously written for Newsweek and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, covering national politics, transportation and the cannabis industry.
-
Long summer days in Iceland's highlands
The Week Recommends While many parts of this volcanic island are barren, there is a 'desolate beauty' to be found in every corner
By The Week UK Published
-
The Democrats: time for wholesale reform?
Talking Point In the 'wreckage' of the election, the party must decide how to rebuild
By The Week UK Published
-
5 deliciously funny cartoons about turkeys
Cartoons Artists take on pardons, executions, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Global court issues arrest warrant for Netanyahu
Speed Read The International Criminal Court issued warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who stand accused of war crimes
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Gaetz bows out, Trump pivots to Pam Bondi
Speed Read Gaetz withdrew from attorney generation consideration, making way for longtime Trump loyalist Pam Bondi
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
GOP's Mace seeks federal anti-trans bathroom ban
Speed Read Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina has introduced legislation to ban transgender people from using federal facilities
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Ukraine fires ATACMS, Russia ups hybrid war
Speed Read Ukraine shot U.S.-provided long-range missiles and Russia threatened retaliation
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
New York DA floats 4-year Trump sentencing freeze
Speed Read President-elect Donald Trump's sentencing is on hold, and his lawyers are pushing to dismiss the case while he's in office
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Wyoming judge strikes down abortion, pill bans
Speed Read The judge said the laws — one of which was a first-in-the-nation prohibition on the use of medication to end pregnancy — violated the state's constitution
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US sanctions Israeli West Bank settler group
Speed Read The Biden administration has imposed sanctions on Amana, Israel's largest settlement development organization
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Gaetz ethics report in limbo as sex allegations emerge
Speed Read A lawyer representing two women alleges that Matt Gaetz paid them for sex, and one witnessed him having sex with minor
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published