Podcast Summary
Democratic Party's nomination process: The Democratic Party is debating whether to quickly nominate VP Harris or hold a democratic process to choose a new candidate, affecting party unity and future direction.
The Democratic Party is currently facing a debate on how to officially nominate Vice President Kamala Harris as their presidential candidate following President Biden's decision to give up his reelection bid. While the rules allow for the party to make the change with relative ease, there is a debate among party members over whether to quickly coalesce around Harris or to hold a more democratic process to choose a new candidate. This debate comes as only seven presidents in U.S. history have dropped out of their re-election campaigns. Dr. Thomas Gray, an associate professor of political science at UT Dallas, explained on Ask the Expert that the real challenge for the Democratic Party is satisfying their voters, activists, supporters, and donors. The party must decide whether to move forward with a quick name change or hold a more democratic process to select a new candidate. The outcome of this debate could shape the direction of the Democratic Party leading up to the 2024 presidential election.
Democratic Party's nomination process: The Democratic Party's decision to potentially deny an incumbent president, Joe Biden, the nomination in 2020 is unprecedented and complicated by the modern digital age, with rules giving some flexibility but commitments not being binding.
The Democratic Party's decision to push out President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968, as Joe Biden faces mounting pressure to exit the 2020 presidential race, is a rare event in American political history. While it's unusual for a party to deny its incumbent president a nomination, the modern digital age has added a new layer of complexity to the situation. With the Democratic Convention coming up in Chicago next month, it remains unclear what will happen if there are challenges to Biden's delegates. The rules do give them some wiggle room, but commitments are not binding, and a lot can change in a month. The outcome will depend on what happens between now and then, and whether anyone else decides to challenge Harris for the nomination. Overall, this is uncharted territory for the Democratic Party, and they're likely flying blind as they navigate this unique situation.
Streamlined Democratic Convention: If Joe Biden secures the nomination without opposition, the Democrats might hold a streamlined convention with abbreviated contests, delegate votes, and representation of various demographic groups, potentially exploring alternative methods to engage younger voters.
If Joe Biden secures the Democratic nomination without opposition, the party may opt for a streamlined convention process. This would likely involve abbreviated contests, such as speeches on television or at an event, followed by a delegate vote. The party would ensure delegate representation of various demographic groups and interests. To engage younger voters, they might explore alternative methods like text-to-vote. France's recent elections, completed in just three weeks, demonstrate the feasibility of expediting the process. However, it's important to note that America's political culture typically prolongs elections, making this an unusual prospect.
VP running mate selection, eligibility: VP Harris' potential running mates include Pete Buttigieg, Andy Beshear, and Gavin Newsom, but Newsom's eligibility due to the 12th Amendment may limit his options. Biden is expected to be less vocal in campaigning due to presidential duties. Virtual events and campaigns offer opportunities for innovation.
The role of Vice President Harris' running mate is still uncertain, with potential candidates including Pete Buttigieg, Andy Beshear, and Gavin Newsom. However, Newsom's ineligibility due to the 12th Amendment, which prohibits individuals from running for the presidency and vice presidency from the same state, may limit his options. Biden, who dropped out of the presidential race to focus on his duties as president, is expected to be less vocal in campaigning due to the demands of the presidency. The next few months may bring more clarity to these questions, as the nomination process unfolds. Additionally, there are opportunities for innovation in virtual events and campaigns, but ultimately, the success of these efforts depends on the willingness of key figures to engage in them.
Biden's Legacy and Priorities: President Biden may focus on foreign policy during remaining months, prioritize duties over Harris, and face challenges if he steps down, including incumbency for Harris
President Biden may focus on areas where he's most comfortable, such as foreign policy, during the remaining months of his presidency. Given ongoing wars and tensions with China, he may have opportunities to succeed. If Biden aims to secure his legacy, he might prioritize his presidential duties over supporting Vice President Harris. Additionally, some Democratic candidates have avoided events with him due to his poll numbers and communication challenges. There have been calls from the Republican Party for Biden to retire from the White House, but it's unclear how voters would respond if Harris took over with only six months left in the term. Incumbency involves both having the title "president" and demonstrating effective use of the office, which could be a challenge for Harris if she suddenly becomes president.
Presidential Fundraising: Presidents build prestige and legitimacy during their time in office, making it difficult for successors to replicate. Vice President Harris can use her campaign funds for her own campaign, but concerns arise if someone other than her becomes the nominee due to the large amount of money recently raised, potentially impacting Biden's fundraising efforts.
Presidents build prestige and legitimacy through their time in office, which is difficult for a successor to replicate. Regarding Vice President Harris's campaign funds, most experts believe she can continue to use the money raised for her own campaign, as her name is on the filing sheet. However, if someone other than Harris becomes the nominee, there are concerns about over $100 million in funds being available for use. This is significant due to the large amount of money recently raised. Additionally, President Trump is unlikely to resign, and if he completes his term, Biden's fundraising efforts may not directly benefit Harris.
Age vs Experience in 2024 Election: Democrats may use Trump's age against him in 2024, but it could be a challenge to shift from downplaying age's importance to using it as a criticism. Kamala Harris' legal experience could help Democrats position themselves as a law and order party and highlight Trump's felony convictions.
The age issue could potentially be used by the Democrats against Donald Trump in the upcoming presidential race, as he will be the oldest candidate for one of the major parties. However, they may face challenges in making this switch from downplaying the importance of age to using it as a criticism, especially since Trump's image of resilience might not align with the perception of weakness and frailty associated with aging. Additionally, Kamala Harris, the Democratic Vice President, brings valuable legal experience to the table, and the party might try to position themselves as a law and order party while highlighting Trump's felony convictions. Despite these possibilities, the effectiveness of these attacks on Trump could be influenced by how voters respond to these sudden shifts in messaging.
Kamala Harris' law enforcement background: The Democratic Party must carefully navigate Kamala Harris' law enforcement background to appeal to older and moderate voters while addressing concerns from progressives and younger voters
Vice President Kamala Harris' background in law enforcement can be a double-edged sword for the Democratic Party. While it could potentially appeal to certain voters, particularly older or more moderate individuals, it could also deter progressives and younger voters who may view her law enforcement history negatively. This creates a delicate balance for the party, as they look to capitalize on Harris' strengths while also addressing the concerns of their more liberal base. Dr. Thomas Gray from UTD highlighted this challenge, emphasizing the importance of carefully navigating this issue to avoid alienating key voter demographics. Ultimately, the party will need to find a way to accentuate Harris' law enforcement background in a way that resonates positively with a broad range of voters.
