I agree. A reporter (NBC, I think) was interviewing Bloomberg and his daughter at Times Square shortly before the ball dropped, and asked him if he was going to run for President.
Bloomberg's answer was low-key, but unambiguous. Something like "No, I won't run, but I intend to speak out on the issues and promote non-partisanism" or some such thing. Lame answer, but clear enough with respect to his intentions.
That trial balloon he floated must have done a Hindenberg.
I believe the donkeys went crazy and let him know about it. They realized he’d hurt them a lot worst than the Republicans. That’s why he’s not running...you can bet he’d run if it would have hurt the Republicans badly.