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)
"Wouldn't it be more fair it the Times waited until after the election to publish this piece?"
No.
"They used to know better"
Wrong again:
1. They should have published it.
2. That article from the Bush era revealed something. The article posted here today is an editorial that doesn't reveal anything new. Instead it discusses a report from a government agency.
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)