TAMPA, Fla. — Joe Biden’s woeful performance in the Iowa Caucuses is energizing supporters of Michael Bloomberg’s unconventional presidential campaign.

More Decision 2020 coverage:

Bloomberg announced on Tuesday that he planned to expand his staff to at least 2,000 people nationally and double his ad spending in Florida and other markets where he is currently airing television ads.

The former New York City Mayor earned his first gubernatorial endorsement Wednesday when Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo announced her support. That followed Tuesday’s announcement that nearly 30 current and former U.S. mayors were backing Bloomberg, including Tampa's Bob Buckhorn (Current Tampa Mayor Jane Castor remains neutral in the race).

“I think he is the candidate who can attract independents, disaffected Democrats that voted for Donald Trump and some center-right Republicans who are just sick of this president and the way that he carries himself in the office,” Buckhorn told Spectrum Bay News 9 at the boat house at Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park. “So I think he’s the best guy to do it. Obviously, he’s got the resources to do it, he’s making a commitment financially to this. If he’s not the nominee, he’s still going to make that same financial commitment to help whoever that nominee is, but I do think the country is ready for something different. And I think he fits that bill.”

It’s not surprising that Buckhorn is backing Bloomberg. They’re both former big-city mayors who lean more centrist in their political ideology.

“I think Bloomberg has a lot of appeal to a lot of voters out there,” says former USFSP professor of government Darryl Paulson, noting that Bloomberg has been both a registered Republican, independent and now a Democrat.  Paulson acknowledges that centrist appeal would be appreciated more in a general election than in a contested primary.

Among those in attendance to observe Bloomberg when he campaigned in Tampa late last month were Tampa businesswoman Kathleen Shanahan, who served on the campaigns and administrations of former Vice Presidents George H.W. Bush and Dick Cheney, as well as St. Petersburg Police Chief Tony Holloway (who said he was just observing and not endorsing anyone in the race).

While it’s extremely unorthodox to bypass the traditional early primary states and caucuses as a pathway to a major party’s nomination, Paulson says Bloomberg’s strategy is sound, particularly since he just entered the race in November.

“Bloomberg doesn’t need to do well in Iowa or in any of the first four states. You’ve got Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina. Collectively those four states make up less than four percent of the delegates going to the Democratic Convention,” he says. “So to a great extant, it’s sort of meaningless. Other than the fact that somebody is going to be declared a winner and that’s what makes the difference.”

While Bloomberg appeals to centrist-oriented Democrats, progressives are far less likely to embrace his candidacy.

Bob Buckhorn says he respects Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren supporters. He says if Bloomberg or Biden become the party's nominee though, there can't be a replay of 2016, when some Democrats sat out the general election.

"The question becomes: would you rather be right on all of these litmus test issues, or would you rather win? Because I know as mayor, you can’t govern if you can’t win,” he says. “And so you can be right and be in the wilderness for the next four years with a president that will destroy everything that is good about this country, or would you rather win with a candidate who you would only agree on fifty percent on?  Fifty percent is better than nothing at all.

Buckhorn was scheduled to appear along with Bloomberg senior adviser Tim O’Brien on Wednesday afternoon to formally open Bloomberg’s St. Petersburg office opening on Central Avenue.

Campaign officials say they intend to open “nearly 20 field offices” over the next couple of weeks, and will have over 100 staff on the ground in the Sunshine State.