It doesn’t matter who leads the Democratic ticket if the party can’t effectively focus the election on the CHOICE going forward in 2025 between two visions for our country—American (Rule by, of, and for All the People) versus Un-American (Rule by, of, and for the Correct People). Inside this big frame are the traditional American values of Individual Freedom, Economic Security, and Collective Responsibility
Can they roll out paid and earned media campaigns nationally and locally that make this contrast more compelling to the media than Trump 24/7 or Biden-is-too-oooold 24/7? Can they marshall surrogates and coordinate messaging downballot at the local level so that Republican candidates at all levels are made to be accountable for Project 2025 ideas—not just Trump?
The dysfunctional SCOTUS and its dismantling of our democracy needs to be tied tightly to ALL republicans and to the DETAILS of Project 2025. Can Democrats at all levels are willing to CONTRAST their future plans with their opponents’ plans—or lack of them, or the Project 2025 version of them if they refuse to commit to anything but vaguely support Trump publicly. Local Republicans all over the US should be under pressure to publicly agree to awful Project 2025 stuff, in agreement with Trump, or to publicly disagree with Trump (wedge them up).
Now, if Biden can’t be the leader on this strategy, either because he doesn’t have the stamina, inclination, etc., or because his presence just prevents the press from shifting away from the Biden-is-too-old focus, then a change in candidate is necessary.
I would suggest the party immediately begin the communication shift to CHOICE of FUTURE and roll out all of the potential alternate candidates for President and VP aggressively in service of this message would be a good idea. Include Biden. See what happens.
For the record, I favor a Harris-Buttigieg ticket, framing it as Biden team picking up the banner from Joe, who has accepted that he isn’t up to a full 4 more years, but “honoring his great leadership, etc”. Any Harris ticket is going to get the “woke” attack and Buttigieg addition isn’t going to appreciably make it worse in key states, with a significant chance of improving Harris in the midwest states (look at his polling in those states). Buttigieg has been in every state as SecDOT, giving local media interviews and connecting locally and he is one of our very best at redirecting media messages where they need to be. He carries the Veteran message very powerfully as well. I would also suggest that the Dems quietly guarantee that 2028 will allow an open primary for all candidates, including Harris and Buttigieg, to face the voters—that there won’t be an assumption of automatic incumbency.