That Mike Bloomberg was re-elected as NYC mayor was no big surprise. Not only do many New Yorkers like him (I am luke warm to him), but he also enters the history books as the person who spent the most money ever on a municipal election campaign. $75 million, much of it his own. It is frustrating, if only because he began his re-election campaign ahead of his opponent by many percentage points. There was no need, in my mind, to spend such an obscene amount of money to merely ensure that his lead remained as high as it did. Poor Freddy. I suspect that even if he had clear messages, he would have still lost - he didn't have nearly the same amount of money as Mike and certainly could never outspend him.
The spending of compaign money has become a bigger and bigger issue in recent elections. Perhaps because the world is such a multimedia state now, that it is far easier to reach your constituents than ever before. Mike Bloomberg was able to spend as much as he could because he funded his own campaign. It helps to be a billionaire I guess. He claims that because the money is his own, there is no worry that he must follow a party agenda - he is not obligated to since he didn't take Republican money. I find it scary, however, that a man such as he can literally out buy his competitor in all ways. Elected officials should be bound by the same laws that hamper corporations and individuals in contributions. While they may not owe the party any favors, they are also not held accountable or in check by anyone else. Sometimes we need some checks and balances.
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