What now for the Democrats?

Now that Biden has agreed to pass the torch . . .

7/22/24

Like many, I applaud Biden’s decision. I would have preferred that he’d made it sooner, but there’s still plenty of time for the Democrats to run a successful campaign. In fact, I wish something on the order of a two-month campaign — as opposed to a two-year campaign — were the norm and not the exception. The length of time — and money — currently spent on presidential campaigns is unconscionable. This issue is difficult in that, given our commitment to free speech, I don’t really see a way to preclude individuals or PACs from mounting campaigns for office at any time of their choosing. I just wish that, in the best interests of our country, the two parties would mutually agree that they wouldn’t sanction fundraising and spending much before, say, a quarter prior to an upcoming election.

For those who were reluctant to see Biden take himself out of the race for fear that the Democrats would self-destruct in an all-out melee with prospective replacement candidates tearing each other down, that fear seems to have largely been unfounded given the broad swath of endorsements coming to Kamala Harris. And for those who argue for an open convention rather than a “coronation,” that just may happen. The lineup of endorsements for Harris doesn’t prevent the delegates from making judgments in…