At about 1:45 p.m. this past Sunday, Joe Biden released a statement on social media in which he announced that he was not seeking re-election. A half-hour later he followed his first post with a second one in which he endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to succeed him. All of this was the result of Biden’s now infamous debate debacle, which raised questions about his mental and physical fitness to serve. And it came after nearly three dozen Democratic lawmakers called for him to get out of the race. Perhaps the final straw was former Speaker Nancy Pelosi telling Uncle Joe that the polls showed he couldn’t beat Trump and that he would hurt down-ballot candidates in the process.
Biden’s weekend announcement took some folks by surprise, while others wondered why he took so long to bow out, especially with the Democratic Convention less than a month away and the election less than four months away. Now Party leaders and delegates are scrambling to get behind Harris and figure out who their ticket will be. All of this drama could have been avoided if politicians and donors had paid heed to David Ignatius.
Last October I reported on various sources that were calling for President Biden not to run for re-election. Chief among them was Washington Post columnist David Ignatius, who is said to have been one of Biden’s favorite journalists. Ignatius cited early polling and strongly suggested that neither Biden nor Harris could beat Trump. Concurrently other media pundits were floating names of candidates who could get the Democratic nomination if Biden dropped out and, now that Kamala is the odds-on favorite to take the top spot, those same pundits are floating those same names as possible running mates for Harris. Among them are Governor Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, Governor Andy Beshear of Kentucky, and Governor Roy Cooper of North Carolina.
True, Cooper has proven he can win elections, but only by a razor-thin margin the first time around because he threw Pat McCrory under the bus for creating the “Bathroom Bill”. The problem is that McCrory didn’t create the bill and even tried to derail it, but never mind the facts. Cooper also gained both praise and criticism for his handling of the Covid pandemic. Supporters say Cooper helped save lives by closing schools, issuing a stay-at-home order, requiring vaccinations and masks, and enforcing socially distant public gatherings. But the governor acted unilaterally in extending those orders when he should have sought consensus from his council of state officers. The lengthy shutdown threw students way behind and caused thousands of small businesses to go out of business, the effect of which we are still feeling today. And for you Law and Order fans, Cooper shockingly pardoned a number of murderers, including a woman who burned up her grandparents’ house with them in it. On the plus side, some Democrats think a swing state governor like Cooper could help Harris overcome Trump’s current 6-point lead in North Carolina, but don’t bet on it.
With apologies to my own governor, if the Democrats really want to give Trump a run for his money, I think Harris should tap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer as her running mate. Whitmer is a capable leader, and she could actually deliver her home state for the Dems. Moreover, an all-female ticket might encourage higher voter turnout at a time when Trump and Vance propose to trample on women’s rights.
Biden did the right thing by stepping aside. Whether his decision bears fruit in November remains to be seen.
Vice President Roy Cooper?
At about 1:45 p.m. this past Sunday, Joe Biden released a statement on social media in which he announced that he was not seeking re-election. A half-hour later he followed his first post with a second one in which he endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to succeed him. All of this was the result of Biden’s now infamous debate debacle, which raised questions about his mental and physical fitness to serve. And it came after nearly three dozen Democratic lawmakers called for him to get out of the race. Perhaps the final straw was former Speaker Nancy Pelosi telling Uncle Joe that the polls showed he couldn’t beat Trump and that he would hurt down-ballot candidates in the process.
Biden’s weekend announcement took some folks by surprise, while others wondered why he took so long to bow out, especially with the Democratic Convention less than a month away and the election less than four months away. Now Party leaders and delegates are scrambling to get behind Harris and figure out who their ticket will be. All of this drama could have been avoided if politicians and donors had paid heed to David Ignatius.
Last October I reported on various sources that were calling for President Biden not to run for re-election. Chief among them was Washington Post columnist David Ignatius, who is said to have been one of Biden’s favorite journalists. Ignatius cited early polling and strongly suggested that neither Biden nor Harris could beat Trump. Concurrently other media pundits were floating names of candidates who could get the Democratic nomination if Biden dropped out and, now that Kamala is the odds-on favorite to take the top spot, those same pundits are floating those same names as possible running mates for Harris. Among them are Governor Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, Governor Andy Beshear of Kentucky, and Governor Roy Cooper of North Carolina.
True, Cooper has proven he can win elections, but only by a razor-thin margin the first time around because he threw Pat McCrory under the bus for creating the “Bathroom Bill”. The problem is that McCrory didn’t create the bill and even tried to derail it, but never mind the facts. Cooper also gained both praise and criticism for his handling of the Covid pandemic. Supporters say Cooper helped save lives by closing schools, issuing a stay-at-home order, requiring vaccinations and masks, and enforcing socially distant public gatherings. But the governor acted unilaterally in extending those orders when he should have sought consensus from his council of state officers. The lengthy shutdown threw students way behind and caused thousands of small businesses to go out of business, the effect of which we are still feeling today. And for you Law and Order fans, Cooper shockingly pardoned a number of murderers, including a woman who burned up her grandparents’ house with them in it. On the plus side, some Democrats think a swing state governor like Cooper could help Harris overcome Trump’s current 6-point lead in North Carolina, but don’t bet on it.
With apologies to my own governor, if the Democrats really want to give Trump a run for his money, I think Harris should tap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer as her running mate. Whitmer is a capable leader, and she could actually deliver her home state for the Dems. Moreover, an all-female ticket might encourage higher voter turnout at a time when Trump and Vance propose to trample on women’s rights.
Biden did the right thing by stepping aside. Whether his decision bears fruit in November remains to be seen.