Harris applauding Biden at the SOTU
After this last week, people, especially among the Dem elites and in the press, are freaking out about the race, with loud voices suggesting Biden drop out and let Harris (or someone else) take over as nominee.
Harris polls well and has many advantages, especially youth and energy, but Biden won the votes of primary voters, has managed to knit together the various branches of the Democratic coalition, and, most importantly, seems to have no intention of dropping out.
But why pose this as an either or (Biden or Harris) situation when we can have both?
Biden could say something like this to voters:
“I know I’m an old guy and a little rusty at times, but I am confident I am fully able to stand and serve as your President. I also assure you that Kamala and I are a team, and if elected, I promise not only that I will ensure she is by my side, but also that if at any time I am unable to manage the job of President, I will step down and hand the baton to my worthy vice-president. Elect the Biden-Harris ticket and together, we will ensure the future of democracy at home and abroad, stand up for civil rights, grow the economy while protecting the environment, and attack corruption in our federal judiciary.” etc.
In short, it seems like it would be a good strategy to emphasize that electing Biden is not a huge risk, because it’s actually electing Biden AND Harris.
This way we avoid a contested or damaging nominating convention but also address valid concerns about Biden’s competency now and in the next 4+ years.
It isn’t a perfect solution, obviously, and does not address some major issues (emergencies? who he would trust to tell him it’s time to step down?), but it would be require only a simple change of emphasis by the Biden team and might help calm some of the current disastrous emotional chaos we’re all going through.