Reality finally caught Biden’s hubris and the Democrat establishment’s two year con job this week. And reality bit hard.
The bite though wasn’t apparently ouchy enough because upon his announced exit, Biden endorsed Kamala Harris despite her having only a slightly better chance of election success.
Biden could have stayed out of it and left the decision entirely to the convention, but he was apparently afraid that process might produce a nominee less interested in protecting his legacy than in winning.
Someone like, well, almost anyone else.
So what happens now?
Biden has been joined by most of the Congressional Black Caucus, the Clinton’s, the Soros family, and a host of other Democrat influencers in endorsing Kamala Harris.
That doesn’t mean Kamala is in. Barack Obama’s endorsement will count for more. Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer have also demurred as of this writing. So have some heavy hitter funders who’d like to see a better alternative – one with a better chance than hitting the pass line bet in craps.
That’s about a 20% chance, same as the likelihood Kamala will ever be called President-elect – absent a gaff by Republicans anyway.
Still, it will be hard to stop the train that has become Harris for President, despite it being heavily filled with all manner of negative freight. Least of her vulnerabilities is explaining the bunko scam she’s run on American voters for at least the past two years hyperbolizing Biden’s fine fettle.
Also slowing the train is the challenge to defend Biden’s record. Even before Emperor Joe’s debate-night disrobing, his record was losing him the election.
As important as Biden’s endorsement, Randi Weingarten jumped on board before the virtual ink dried on Biden’s X post announcement. She’s head of the American Federation of Teachers, the nation’s biggest teacher’s union. In fact, if past conventions give a clue, 2 out of 3 delegates are likely to be members of her union.
Though the train appears to be leaving the station, it’s worth pondering for at least a moment what happens if the few naysayers get their way and Democrats come to their senses before the convention closes?
You can bet a few hundred polls are going in the field today and tomorrow in an effort to measure Kamala’s vulnerabilities. As the results roll in over the next couple of weeks, expect much wailing and gnashing of teeth.
The Congressional Black Caucus might defect if Maryland Governor Wes Moore or Georgia Senator Rafael Warnock become serious options. Either would probably fare better than Kamala on a real test of winnability. A blank slate is easier to write on than Kamala’s messy one. And whoever emerges from the convention will give almost the entire press corps and every Democrat from Hollywood to Harvard the chance to compete for most obsequious.
If, on the other hand, the Obama’s, Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer all join those who hopped the train early, then Kamala won’t be stopped. At least till reality bites again in November.
Another, even bigger, problem for Democrats is that all their prospects are far left progressives – including Kamala.
Biden was picked by the Democrat establishment in 2020 because he could be portrayed as a moderate. In truth, he wasn’t a moderate. He wasn’t anything. For his entire 50 year career Biden’s issue positions were determined by wherever Democrat winds blew strongest.
Biden had no problem flip flopping on energy, bussing, crime, border enforcement, Israel, Russia, trade, or anything else. In 50 years, he can be found on nearly every side of every issue.
Biden’s diffidence was convenient for a Democrat establishment who wanted to beat the anti-establishment Bernie Sanders in 2020, but recognized the need to preserve their power by toeing a more progressive line. It’s not that they liked Biden, it’s that they could control him. In fact, they were so successful, the biggest advocates for Biden remaining atop the ticket were the furthest left progressives led by Bernie Sanders and AOC’s squad.
Few of the candidates available now will fit so neatly into the box created by Biden’s enablers — appear moderate while governing from the far left. Kamala is closest. Yes, she’s a true progressive believer, but with a certain moral and philosophical ambiguity that allows her a fair amount of ideological wiggle room. Note indications that her team are leaning toward the arguably more moderate Josh Shapiro, governor of Pennyslvania, as her number two.
In short, like the Democrat establishment who will morph into whatever form required to maintain power, Kamala has enough chameleon in her to be acceptable.
But can she win? The odds aren’t good. Thus the problem. Go with the one they can control. Or start from scratch building a new persona with a candidate who has a better chance, but very little time to exploit it.