There's a buzz on the internet right now about which Democrats would be on a short list to vie for the nomination in the unlikely event that President Biden is out of the picture.
VP Kamala Harris, VT Senator Bernie Sanders and CA Governor Gavin Newsom are often mentioned in discussions of that sort. I think those truly are the three who’re best-positioned to emerge as the nominee if Joe takes himself out of the picture.
A random observation: it’s fascinating that two of the three are from California. That will give the QOP’ers a great angle when they start sending out fundraising letters! Well, that stuff’s already happening, of course, but the whole process gets kicked into overdrive once the convention’s done and the nominee is chosen.
And Bernie being the other one on the list—the Reich Wing will just go insane if it were him.
I’m a long term—and I mean long term—observer of American politics and have done volunteer work on many campaigns and I want to say clearly that if either Harris or Bernie should get the nod, they’d get creamed! Sad, but true.
Kamala, in part, because white voters with a latent streak of racism—perhaps deeply buried, one they can’t acknowledge and would probably deny if pressed—could easily go third party or stay home. And her time as VP hasn’t done a thing to position her to be the Dem’s next standard bearer. I hasten to add that I supported her candidacy over Joe’s right from Day One, so I didn’t mean that statement as a dig at all.
Bernie has no prayer as the well has been thoroughly poisoned. At least half the Country gets hysterical at the mention of the term socialism and this isn’t going to change anytime in the near future. And Bernie is a socialist. And before you start flaming me in the comments, I hasten to add that I’m a socialist too. But it’s also true that I’m a deeply pragmatic socialist and I know that the chances of Socialists like Bernie and me (and a few million others) seeing the kind of reforms that America so desperately needs come to reality in the next 50 years or so are exactly zero.
A little sidebar here: the Right expended a shit-ton of time, energy and money in the run-up to the 2016 Presidential Election trying to sell us the “fact” that they were petrified at the mere thought of running against Bernie. It was all a Psy Op. They knew they’d cream him—having already made voters go bat shit-crazy at the mere sound of the “S” word—and they were hoping we’d fall for their ruse, make Mr. Sanders straighten his tie and comb his hair and send him out to meet the Anointed Orange One. He would have lost and lost badly.
The simple truth is that no one can become President anymore without appealing to Independents and moderate voters. It’s just not possible. If for no other reason than the fact that there are more registered Indies than either of the major parties. The math is simple.
And the other consideration that will drive every American election until the end of time is that perception is way more important than reality and Rethuglicans are masters at framing every discussion and creating perceptions—often false ones—that push things in a direction that favors them.
So of the three you mentioned, I think Newsom would have the best shot. I’m so aware that there could be other options for us but the fact that Joe does intend to run means that most, if not all, of them are very wisely staying on the sideline. No one has announced (I know Joe hasn’t either; at least not officially.) And barring a sudden, unexpected development with Joe, no one will.
Now, if Joe should leave the picture, and Newsom should become the man, we damn well better get someone who’ll well-balance our ticket. Newsom brings nothing of value there—speaking specifically of that whole regional thing as California goes Blue every four years—and we’d need a candidate for VP who does.
Although I don’t have anyone firmly in mind, Pete Buttigieg or Gretchen Whitmer wouldn’t be bad choices to balance the ticket. Well, those two should probably have been added to our original list for the big race—if Joe should opt to retire to Delaware when his term is complete. I have a ton of respect for both of them and believe that either of them would make a fine Chief Executive.
So there are my thoughts on this. I’m thinking it’s all just some of that “needless speculation” here but it’s fun to kick around different possibilities. The bottom line is to make absolutely sure that you vote in the 2024 Election!
"Bulldog Ben" Basile
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