OK, Reverse the Ticket
Terry H. Schwadron
July 5, 2024
Five months before the election, the significant results are in: Emotion has defeated Reason.
Not only are emotions like anger and retribution driving Donald Trump’s Republican campaign, but Democrats are also making Joe Biden suffer their own meltdown over reactions to his feeble debate performance only a week ago. Driven by fear, feelings of deception, even a certain amount of compassion, Democrats are leaning on Biden to reconsider running — in a hurry.
With increasing pressure and worsening polls, It’s now even money as to whether Biden decides to withdraw because of age, though he says he has no intention of doing so. Of course, neither does Trump intend to withdraw, despite a felony conviction and lies so thick and deep on a variety topics that almost all his close advisers are facing legal issues.
There’s a simple answer to those yapping at Biden’s heels: The only person who can decide whether Biden will withdraw is Biden himself. But on a holiday weekend, we could play the game too, I suppose.
Reverse the Ticket
If Biden were to acquiesce, the easiest answer is the one no one is proposing — swap the ticket positions of Biden and running mate Kamala Harris, the only person with the organization and campaign money to be able to pick up the campaign pieces quickly and relatively smoothly. Biden can offer himself as vice president again, surely a position that can allow for a less stressful state, and serve as Harris’ chief adviser.
The advantages are obvious. Harris is younger, well-spoken particularly in campaigning and debates, she and Biden seem to agree on key issues in the race. Biden knows what needs to happen and would get out from under the constant questions about reliance on his age, health, and public discomfort. As a campaigner, she would challenge Trump directly, and appeal to many of younger voters of color who describe themselves as disaffected.
The disadvantages are equally clear. There are questions about whether Harris is ready for the job and whether she would simply be a mouthpiece for Biden?
There are worse questions to ask, like those much of the country has or should have for Trump, who basically wants to do away with most government and serve as a monarch.
Are there better candidates than Kamala Harris? Likely, yes. But too much time has been frittered away. Reversing the ticket allows for continuity among Democrats and can be assuring to world leaders as well as to Democratic voters.
No one disputes that Biden knows the job and what to do, just that he may have lost the confidence of enough of his voters to run a winning campaign.
In other words, this isn’t about governing, it is again about winning.
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