It’s maddening to see skepticism of ejecting Biden treated like cultish loyalty. Some of us have been out here saying Biden’s too old for years. The problem is that what is being proposed is a shocking, almost unheard-of remedy, and every historic precedent tells us it’ll end in catastrophe.
It’s very, very clear that the loudest voices calling most excitedly for this remedy are not especially politically sophisticated or even worried about Biden losing - that’s why they didn’t freak for the months of lagging polls and why they’re doing nonsense fantasy-draft replacement picks.
I guess I'm a weird case because I do think there's a strong case to make that Harris is the better car. But people who say their only concern is beating Donald Trump haven't made that case and have instead made arguments that would be *fatal.*
at this point I’m willing to believe Harris might be a better candidate but you do kinda have to add a grain of salt to account for the negative campaigning that right now is mostly not happening against her
It really rests on what you think Biden's actual capabilities are, something none of us really know, but which people who know him haven't (IMO) been able to really reassure us of. Tomorrow's interview will be interesting.
regardless I don’t think this is the actual fulcrum. Biden can resign in favor of Harris any time, and doing it ~any other time than now is likely easier. the electoral math is what matters
not necessarily, no, the campaign shouldn’t optimize on “inform the American voter” they should optimize on “win the election”
the media should probably look extra hard at the VPs in a race between two guys who would each be the oldest president ever at inauguration though
To state my case a little more directly, I think Trump, the media and the voters are going to say, this is pretty likely. So to me you can’t hide from that / avoid it.
You can’t say, “Don’t worry Biden can resign any time. But let’s not talk about the VP.”
The messaging should be, "Biden has been a competent POTUS & will be a competent POTUS if re-elected". I think there's a strategy to play up the fact that Harris is competent & ready, but it needs to be thought out carefully to avoid putting off Democrats with 2028 ambitions.
I think it hasn’t been enough. I think it needs to be more explicit. But we’ll see. I’m betting it become more of an issue than ever before.
By all means the Dems can make it an issue for GOP VP. But I think avoidance won’t work.
If Biden stays as the nominee, the only message is "he will continue being a good President". Harris will be a great messenger, but depicting her as the "heir in waiting" is really, really bad.
