A Florida Democratic State Senator is leaving Biden’s Campaign to Support Michael Bloomberg, the First Signs of Defection in the Sunshine State, which has long been considered Biden Country.
State Sen. Jason Pizzo (D-38th District, Miami), who endorsed Biden in July, said he did so under the Impression he would have some Input into Campaign Decisions. But Biden’s Team isn’t picking up the Phone when he Calls. “Candidly, I had waited and hoped for Bloomberg, then thought he wouldn’t enter — thereafter, I signed a card for Biden, with the expectation we’d (i.e. state legislators) be welcomed to provide input,” Pizzo said. “Several attempts later, my enthusiasm and confidence have waned. and now I’m on board with Bloomberg,” he added.
The Former Assistant State Attorney might Not be Biden’s only Florida Defector.
State Rep. Michael Grieco (D-113rd District, Miami) said his “pendulum is swinging towards Bloomberg,” though he has Not yet Pulled his Biden Endorsement. “I’m on board with Bloomberg,” he added. “My concern is more with the Democratic Party imploding before we even get a nominee. But yes, I currently have my reservations about the Biden campaign moving forward and I have been increasingly open to supporting Mike Bloomberg in Florida,” he continued.
A Lackluster Performance in Iowa and Poor Polling in New Hampshire, Biden’s Campaign is Stumbling. But he continued to be Perceived as the Front-Runner in Florida, which will Award a haul of 219 Pledged Delegates.
Pizzo’s Defection and Grieco’s Concern is the First evidence of potential Cracks in Biden’s bulwark against Bloomberg’s Advances in Florida. The Former Three-Term New York Mayor has Flooded the State with $30 Million in TV Ads.
Bloomberg’s Blitz in Florida and Biden’s Fall Nationally and in the First Two Early States are Unfolding just as Vote-by-Mail Absentee Ballots have been sent out Ahead of the March 17th Primary. Absentee Voting could Account for more than Half of all Votes Cast before Election Day.
To be sure, Biden currently Dominates the Competition for Florida Endorsements.
“This sort of stuff is all driven by the news narrative,” said former Florida Rep. Gwen Graham, who ran for Florida Governor in 2018. “I still think Joe Biden is the best positioned to win in the general election, and I have confidence in what they are doing.”
Bloomberg’s focus on March Primary States, however, has led to seemingly Omnipresent Campaign Ads, a quickly Growing Florida Staff, and Promises he will Open Dozens of Field Offices across the State in the weeks Leading Up to the State's March 17th Primary.
Elizabeth Warren has a long-standing Florida Volunteer Network and a handful of Field Offices and Staff, and Bernie Sanders recently Hired a Florida State Director. But Bloomberg’s Footprint is by far the Biggest to date.
To put a finer point on the Resource disparity: Bloomberg's Spending on Ads in Florida alone is more than Three Times the $9 Million Cash On-Hand Biden's Campaign had at the End of 2019.
Former Miami Mayor Manny Diaz was Originally with Biden, but is Longtime Friends with Bloomberg and Endorsed him as soon as he Entered the race. He said Cash is the Biggest Reason he expects a Bloomberg Surge when a New Round of Pre-Primary Day Polling starts coming out.
“They [Biden campaign] have to be worried,” Diaz said. “Money sounds like it’s going to be an issue.”
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