So, why are Democrats considering overlooking Bloomberg’s baggage now to the point that he’s currently running as high as third, according to a Quinnipiac poll? Because in my view, rank and file Democrats are so invested in the imperative to defeat Donald Trump they may well be willing to ignore the issues that likely kept Bloomberg out of the race at the outset. Earlier this week, a resurfaced recording from 2015 revealed Bloomberg defending stop-and-frisk, as well as racist policing in New York City.

Now, it’s not all baggage with Bloomberg. He’s spent massive amounts of his personal wealth funding gun safety campaigns around the country. With that, he’s built a network of political supporters who’ve benefited from his financial support. His leadership and financing of climate change initiatives has also provided him with a base of liberal and young leaders around the country.

But as in many puzzles, the answer is following the money. And that’s what Bloomberg has, and lots of it. And unlike some other billionaires, he’s willing to spend it, as much as it takes, to win both the nomination and the presidency. He’s already spent more than $300 million on advertising alone and has built a nationwide campaign staff of almost 2,500 people.