It seems lately that every poll and pundit has Mayor Bloomberg winning by a landslide come November 8. The numbers are truly impressive, putting the mayor more than 30 points ahead of challenger Fernando Ferrer.

Mr. Bloomberg’s folks will tell you that well documented progress on jobs and schools are the reasons for Mr. Bloomberg’s seemingly unapproachable poll numbers. Democrats point to a $100 million campaign budget and domination of the airwaves as the reasons for his success so far.

Either theory may be true, but maybe it is all the talk about Mr. Bloomberg’s billions and how he got them that is actually attractive to voters. And maybe we Democrats should stop advertising what a wealthy and successful man he is.

One hundred million dollars is more money than almost any New Yorker could imagine possessing – and that is less than 1/50 of our mayor’s total worth. His extravagant spending could be seen as almost disgusting when you consider that most every New Yorker must already know his name, yet he spends on lavish parties and unnecessarily posh campaign digs. Why?

The answer is in this question: Do you wish that you had $100 million to blow on a political campaign? Whether you want to run for office, give to charity, or buy an island, the answer is, undoubtedly, yes.

A little more than 60 years ago, Messrs. Bloomberg and Ferrer both started from mid dle-class surroundings. Mr. Ferrer shined shoes, and earned a scholarship to New York University. Mr. Bloomberg parked cars and paid his way through Johns Hopkins with loans. Yet Mr. Bloomberg is a billionaire. Mr. Ferrer is not even a millionaire. So when Mr. Ferrer says, “Bloomberg has unlimited funds to spend on this campaign,” New Yorkers wonder “Why don’t you?”

For about a month now, Mr. Ferrer has squeezed a line about Mr. Bloomberg’s over spending into just about every stump speech and Q &A that his campaign has arranged. Each comment has potentially had one of three negative effects: (1) Every time Mr. Ferrer says Mr. Bloomberg’s money is unfair to the democratic process, he undermines the important core belief that voters and issues elect candidates, not advertisements; (2) It reminds voters how successful Mr. Bloomberg is; (3) It sounds like a loser’s excuse for losing.

A transit worker from Brownsville, Darlene Mealy, took on a well-funded political dynasty when she challenged William F. Boyland Sr. for the City Council. She won handily by inspiring people, earning their respect, and communicating a clear message.

New Yorkers clearly admire Mr. Bloomberg, and not for his billions, but for how he earned them. It is up to Mr. Ferrer now to show New Yorkers why they should admire him for his own successes and for his ideas on how to improve New York, which have come from many years of dedication to public service. That is the only way he will get their vote, and it’s not too late.

After all, if money really guaranteed an election victory, Ross Perot would be opening his presidential library about now.

Mr. Thies is a writer and political analyst living in Brooklyn.