'The Power of Advertising' Bloomberg Leads Florida Polls in Democratic Primary

Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg
[Photo by AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] Michael Bloomberg, former New York City mayor and a candidate in the US Democratic presidential primary, recorded first place in a Florida poll. Considering Florida's significance in the primary process, Bloomberg's 'momentum' appears to be intensifying.

According to The Hill on the 14th (local time), in a Florida poll released the previous day by polling agency Saint Pete Polls, Bloomberg secured first place with a support rate of 27.3%, up 10 percentage points from last month.

Former Vice President Joe Biden fell to second place with 25.9% support, trailing Bloomberg. This marks a significant decline compared to his support rate of over 41% last month. It is understood that poor performances in the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary influenced this drop.

Former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Senator Bernie Sanders ranked in the top three with 10.5% and 10.4%, respectively. Senator Amy Klobuchar, who placed third in the New Hampshire primary, was fifth with 8.6%, and Senator Elizabeth Warren was sixth with 4.8%.

The Hill evaluated that Bloomberg's strategy of skipping early primary states and focusing intensive advertising efforts in Florida is proving effective. Bloomberg is estimated to have spent $350 million on advertising since starting his campaign at the end of November last year.

Florida, with 219 delegates, is one of the key battlegrounds in the primary along with California (416 delegates) and Texas (228 delegates), which vote on Super Tuesday. Each candidate is paying special attention to these regions.

Bloomberg's national support is also on the rise. According to the average national poll support rates compiled by political analysis media RealClearPolitics (February 4?11), Bloomberg ranked third with 14.2%, following Sanders (23.6%) and Biden (19.2%). Next were Warren (12.4%), Buttigieg (10.6%), and Klobuchar (4.6%).