The quote:
“Given Joe Biden’s incredible record, given Donald Trump’s terrible record: he should be mopping the floor with Donald Trump. Joe Biden is running against a criminal. It should not be even close. And there is only one reason it is close. And that is the president’s age.”
There’s just no clear alternative. We don’t have someone to rally under even if we get rid of Biden. Maybe it is the right thing cause I know I dont want Biden either. Its just a dangerous gamble with all that is at stake either way you slice it. Which is why I’m questioning the move so hard. There’s no clear alternate candidate, doing this is very likely to fracture democrats even more. Maybe I do have a tinfoil hat on, but all these fears are very valid. I dont trust Republicans with even a single one of my pubic hairs and I know something like this is not below them.
The only actual alternative is Harris. I wouldn’t guess anyone having a panic attack right now will listen to me but:
- she’s the only one who can legally use the campaign funds
- setting up a new campaign takes months
- ads have largely already been reserved
- passing over a qualified black woman for [insert the imaginary candidate of your dreams] would piss off a pretty key constituency (especially in Georgia and Michigan)
- the media and Republicans will have a motherfucking feeding frenzy destroying an untested candidate with no experience on the national stage
Am I happy about this? Nope. But those facts are just being hand-waived away while people ignore every risk to replacing Biden and, on top of that, the risk of replacing him with their favorite.
You make reasonable points, but here are a couple light rebuttals which ultimately amount to my idea that the risks of replacing Biden outweigh the risks of keeping him on the ticket.
I’m skeptical of the candidate even having to set up a full campaign, because they’ll have the name recognition already. If it’s the result of 5 debates between younger Democrats including Harris, that is going to be blasted on every news channel. Not to mention, a giant campaign isn’t exactly helping Biden. The negative press alone from them trying to shield him probably set him back enough that he’ll lose.
Regarding the ads having already been reserved, I won’t pretend to know how any of that works, but wouldn’t you think that would also hinder Trump? As all his ads would be toward Biden and not the candidate? He would somehow have to pivot his attacks. Harris is easier for Trump to attack, because he’s been doing it for years now, along with Fox News. Regardless, I don’t find much sway in that argument , just because I’m not sure ads are really going to do much to swing moderate or independent voters.
I don’t think the public is politically aware enough to realize Harris is the “next in line,” as you infer, so I really don’t think they’d be alienating black or female voters.
(Side note: I think the whole idea of Harris being the one to be “passed over” is such a bullshit modern political take. Just like how it was Hillary’s turn, or Biden’s turn. That kinda shit is what got us here now, instead of choosing the best candidate we always seem to choose the one who should be, or who is due next. Really fucking frustrating.)
Finally, the media is already having a feeding frenzy on Biden, a well-tested candidate with lots of experience. He is down in the polls in swing states, he’s getting grilled by his own party, and his numerous attempts of damage control have done little to assuage the concerns from congresspeople, but I’d also guess voters, as well. I’m sorry but I just don’t think Biden can beat Trump, and I think he should step aside for either Harris or, in my preference, let the DNC shake it out with some debates.
I don’t think either us are wrong since we’re in unprecedented territory. Almost any scenario could happen. My main concern is that calling for a different candidate is easy and no one is addressing the hard parts of a campaign and building a winning coalition.
The ad buys for September and October are probably just reserved at this point with content to come later. There’s probably lots of flexibility for presidential campaigns but, like any project, a last minute change with no new deadline will make it all worse.
And whether we like it or not, plenty of people support Kamala Harris. And not just her. All the potential candidates. We’re all imagining our fave will get the nod but only one will. People say Gavin Newsome but he had an affair with his campaign manager’s wife. How is that going to play with voters? No idea. Maybe Trump is so bad, it’s a footnote but maybe it makes enough suburbanites disgusted. I don’t know.
