Lots has changed since I last wrote about the election. Not many people thought Joe Biden would recover and go on to gather a commanding lead in delegates, but he did just that with the help of the African-American vote, the unwavering base of the Democratic Party.
I still maintain that the fissures within the Democratic Party between the Neo-liberals and the Sanders wing (the Social Democrats) of the party is a problem. Sanders hasn’t dropped out yet, (although there are reports some advisors are suggesting he do so) even though it’s just about impossible for him to catch up to Biden.
But in addition, now, we’re in a new world as the coronavirus rages through the U.S., and suddenly, Biden and Sanders are having problems penetrating the 24/7 coronavirus news loop. Both candidates also appear far more frail in their transmissions from home. Their advanced age can’t be ignored in the middle of this pandemic.
With the Democratic primaries halted, I do not see why an unconventional convention can’t be held. First of all, it’s unlikely there will be the usual gathering of delegates, even in August. Biden will not have the 1991 total delegates he needs to win outright until the convention. So why shouldn’t the Democrats select the best candidates for this unprecedented moment to confront not only Trump but also this killer epidemic. There’s a large talent pool available, most prominently Elizabeth Warren, who demonstrated during her campaign the ability to draw up realistic plans for just about anything, including how to confront the coronavirus pandemic. There are other strong candidates who lost but could be considered. Furthermore, the new stars of the moment who are demonstrating leadership are the governors, most prominently, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. 2/x