Bloomberg plans to double TV ad buys

DETROIT — In the wake of an Iowa caucus debacle, former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg authorized his advisers Tuesday to double television spending for his presidential campaign, as his advisers have become more bullish on his odds of success.

The increase represents a massive escalation of what is already the most costly campaign for the Democratic nomination in U.S. history.

Bloomberg told a noontime crowd here Tuesday that he was sleeping on a plane Monday night, woke up and asked an aide what had happened in the Iowa caucuses. He said the aide answered, “Nothing.”

“I still can’t figure out what happened,” Bloomberg said to laughter. “More than any other candidate, we have the momentum.” Bloomberg’s presidential strategy is dependent on a chaotic result in the first four Democratic nominating states, where he is not competing.

Recent changes to the Democratic Party’s qualification rules for the Feb. 19 debate have opened the door for Bloomberg to qualify. The party has dropped individual donor requirements that the billionaire candidate would not meet, because he has decided to not seek any contributions to his campaign. He has yet to meet polling qualifications.

“This is the best-case scenario,” Bloomberg senior adviser Howard Wolfson said of the confusing Iowa caucuses results. “After a year of running, the field is as unsettled as ever. No one has made the sale or even come close to it. Meanwhile, we are taking the fight to Trump every day.”