What Bloomberg did right

And I didn't run against black people to win

If Republicans seek to take credit for Bloomberg's victory, they will be taking credit for a campaign riddled with Democrats from to bottom. I don't think any ad, any piece of literature, any radio or TV spot, mentioned any party but the Democratic one.

But quickly, here are a few things his campaign did right, and what his "fellow" Republicans won't.

1) Appeal to black and Latino voters on the issues. He talked about schools, and public safety and quietly, but firmly, renounced the Giuliani years. He talked about "healing" which is code for "I'm not a racist like Giuliani". And without that, he would have lost, and lost badly. Bloomberg gets a lot of credit for not being a racist, some of it overblown, but he made a concerted effort to be seen and endorsed by blacks, including Magic Johnson. He didn't insult their intelligence, or pander to them, but talked to them intelligently.

Of course, he so outspent his opponent, it didn't much matter.

2) He did black and Latino media in a effort to truly reach out to minority voters. He even spoke in Spanish. But importantly, he appealed to all voters in the media. Because he had no natural base, he couldn't appeal to it. He had to reach out.

3) He didn't harp on racial division and conflict to make his appeal. It was truly run on his version of the issues. And he didn't insult people by saying he "cleaned up New York" as Giuliani's racist code language did in New Jersey. I've never seen a candidate use so many minority faces in his advertising, black or white. Blooomberg was dealing with a new demographic reality, but even black candidates have been afraid to use blacks in their ads. Bloomberg used them in nearly in every ad, and did it lavishly. You could not mistake the idea that Bloomberg had no problem with blacks speaking for him, or representing them. Unlike the race baiter Giuliani, who seemed to openly hate black men.

This was no small change in the way the city had been run. This is the first New York mayoral election since Dinkins when running against the black community was unacceptable. No racist code words, no harping on law enforcement.

Yes, Bloomberg bought the election, but how he bought it is worth notice.

The single most important reason that the GOP doesn't appeal to blacks is that they run against them. If it isn't crime, as Bill Bennett so overtly suggested, it's "waste, fraud and abuse" or money for black people being wasted, or affirmative action. Republicans run on race, against black people and wonder why they don't appeal to black voters, and why black Republicans are so disdained in the community.

But then, Bloomberg ran as a Democrat in all but name, anyway. For Mehlman to take credit for it is absolutely ridiculous. Bloomberg had no Republicans around him. Which is partially why I think his stay in the GOP will soon come to an end.

posted by Steve @ 2:39:00 PM