The reality on Harris is that she is the perfect liberal candidate for your average vote blue Democrat. For most of the electorate it’s all about aesthetics. Joe’s campaign was mostly aesthetics, Sweet Ol’ Grampa Joe here to bring tough love and common sense. Hers will be the same.
She’s a cop, facing down a criminal, she’s a girl boss (the KHive is buzzing), she’s a mother, she’s an ally, shes “youthful”, she’s the perfect surrogate for the corporate Dem platform. We arrived here due to a multitude of factors. Not the least the uncommitted vote in the primary and the low turnout for states that had them. The debate simply finished the equation that was already looking bad for Joe.
The mass movement to vote uncommitted was never going to manifest into a principled stance that would follow through to the election. The solidarity vote will dry up now that biden is out. People who voted uncommitted will feel unburdened, knowing now they can vote blue no matter who in November, regardless of the actual policy slate. They did their part, the time for critical thought is over. People who are apathetic will feel energized by change, and feel less inclined to doom scroll. Any dissenting opinion will be ignored, as the “adults in the room” already did their part getting Biden out, regardless of how valid the criticisms of Harris are. We’re back to our regularly scheduled program, where you better get in line or be the heel.
I think the typical “well meaning” democrat lib sees this as the light at the end of the tunnel. They will be able to put blinders on until November. Whatever momentum was gained for the left through principled action, organizing, and agitation will see these fair weather allies evaporate. Harris might have an equivalent stance on geopolitics to Joe, she might not, but the electorate will not entertain a second referendum on the matter. Been there, done that, this is the most important election of our lives sweety, time to vote.
See this I think has the opposite effect for Republicans. There isn’t traditionally a lot of in fighting, and this would really rock their base. Trump might not want to be president again, but here needs to be to avoid any real consequences. He likely has a lot of favors that need to be reconciled under his second term, and not being able to do that makes you a target.