Oh lord, you’re right. I did know that but I’d forgotten. A trifecta of unelectability. I pray for the day when Josh Shapiro and Dan Goldman will become electable on a national state, but I’m not holding my breath.
I agree with you about MAGA Republicans. Which, sadly, describes much of Congress.
But if we’re talking VOTES: there are many Republican voters who are not MAGA and who do not like Trump. The numbers could be important in the swing states.
The issue of Congress refusing to confirm the election results is obviously of momentous importance. I do think that this possibility remains even if the Dem candidates aren’t especially-hated (but just generally hated) by the MAGA component of Congress.
Vote-wise, though: giving the anti-Trump Republican voters as well as the independents and moderates a centrist (or even center-right) VP pick they like could make the difference in defeating Trump.
Your points are well made. These are eligible voters who at this point would vote Trump over Biden if they bothered to vote, because they see higher prices and do not perceive that their income has also increased, even when it has. Many have not had an election that hasn’t had either Trump or Biden or even both in it. They see the same two old farts making noise, one older.
Suddenly Harris would break through their disgust and boredom with the whole process. She is, to them, new and shiny, an actual chance to change the channel (okay they actually don’t know from channels, sub on some metaphor that makes sense for them.)
The short race would have to keep the messaging simple and focused. A balance between the threat Trump represents to their futures, and how boring his obnoxious bloviating is by now. Pick just two or three main points and hammer them home.
As to VP? Has anyone ever actually decided which ticket to vote for, or even if to vote, based on the VP? Okay McCain may have lost a few due to his VP choice being such a desperate and stupid move. Harris should pick the person she feels she could use like Obama felt Biden would be of help working with the Senate. I’d go with a governor. But just not a stupid choice.
I absolutely agree. We can’t get bogged down in speculating that Now is the Time For the Progressive Agenda and that sort of thing. KEEP TRUMP OUT has to be it, leavened with ‘here are dozens of ways we improved infrastructure and created jobs and lowered drug prices and we are going to continue doing all that, to make your life better.’
I’d normally agree whole-heartedly. Historically this has been true. But we’re in a strange era of history—and getting the media excited about something other than the latest Trump outrage is crucial. We need a VP-pick who will grab the attention of the media and the less-engaged voters.
And if Harris is the Presidential nominee, the VP has to be—there’s no way around it—Manly. Very Manly.