not really. It would be in Bloomberg's interest to write articles critical of Warren or Sanders than focus on Yang, who is polling so low as to be a threat.
Bloomberg doesn't have to beat Warren or Sanders to get the nomination. He's betting that, given a "centrist" alternative, the Dems will prefer it to Warren and Sanders. I.e. it will be a redux of Clintonites' '16 argument "We all love Sanders, but he is too far left and we need to win against mean-old Trump"
Therefore, he only has to beat Yang (since he doesn't really care if he looses to a Biden candidacy; he joined the race when Biden seemed wobbly)
But Bloomberg was a Republican who only recently switched. Why would they elect him as the Democratic candidate at all? Perhaps the answer is "money", but in that case, he's got Yang beaten already. From my (very foreign) point of view, Yang is simply not a serious contender.
What would you define as a serious contender? I'm not a Yang supporter but very early on, he loaded up most of his many policy positions on his website and he has been making the rounds in terms of media exposure e.g. the debates, the Joe Rogan podcast, etc. He's polling at 5th or 6th nationally the last time I checked.
Trump was a Democrat for a lengthy period of time and the Republicans still nominated him. I think Bloomberg is betting that the party and its supporters will not build a coalition around a more left-leaning candidate (Sanders, Warren) and they desire a candidate who, at least for the intent and purpose of electability, can appear more moderate to attract the swing voters. He's also betting that Joe Biden's support will peter out as the campaign moves along - perhaps a gaffe to top all gaffes? - and Bloomberg will slowly vampirize Biden's base. At least, that's my hypothesis on his motivations.
I think the problem Bloomberg will find is that many who lean farther left will not settle for another moderate Democratic candidate who promises only to carry on the status quo (and of course, to defeat Trump). I think his likability and charisma (or lack thereof) will become hindrances to him as this election progresses (Joe Biden, for all his faults, is much more endearing and 'folksy' if you will). I can't imagine hardened Bernie supporters rallying around an old New York billionaire who has the gall to enter as late as he did and basically buy his way into electoral momentum.
Someone with much support, influence and popular appeal.
> I can't imagine hardened Bernie supporters rallying around an old New York billionaire
Me neither, but I also can't imagine them rallying around an uncharmismatic, non-mediagenic guy with primarily nerdy support and the same ideas as the rest, except for the unrealistic and probably "unamerican" UBI, to phrase it in the same style.
Both are polling around 4% and are battling for 5th in polls.
Not that that would invalidate the article. Just feels funky.