Democrats keep doing surprisingly well in special elections. The party’s most vulnerable Senate incumbents are running ahead of their rivals in key battleground states. One of Democrats’ signature issues — reproductive rights — has repeatedly proved a winning message.
And yet Joe Biden is struggling to pull even with Donald Trump.
It’s another ominous sign for the president: Even as other Democrats are running strong, the party’s down-ballot successes aren’t translating into momentum at the top of the ticket. Biden trails Trump in many of the states he needs to win to keep the White House. His job approval is underwater. And the coalition of voters that ushered him into office four years ago is fraying.
“Democrats are enthusiastic about trying to win the Senate and trying to win the House,” said Neil Oxman, a Pennsylvania-based Democratic strategist.
And they’re “not enthusiastic about Biden’s reelection,” Oxman said. “Period.”
First Harris didn’t run, she didn’t even try to run.
Second, Harris is 1/2 of Biden Harris. She’s going to have a lot of the same baggage as Biden at this point.
Third Harris has a ton of her own unique baggage. She’s not a significantly better candidate by any measure. And I’m not even referring to racists and misogynists. Which would happily add themselves on top of that baggage unfortunately.