First off, I don’t think Kamala Harris would be a bad candidate to replace Joe Biden, who finally succumbed to pressure by withdrawing from the race for president. She brings a lot of pluses to the table, not least a boatload of cash. All in all, she’d make a good, solid candidate. But the best Democratic candidate? We don’t know.

Democrats would be smart to hold off on any anointment of Harris, allowing for a “mini-primary” (or whatever) to pick a candidate next month in Chicago. It risks a little chaos, but a little chaos is better than widespread cynicism that a Harris anointment would bring. In case Dems haven’t noticed, pre-selecting candidates hasn’t turned out well for Dems of late, such as the Biden-for-second-term anointment. Or how about the 2016 Hillary Clinton anointment? … Speaking of Hillary Clinton, she and her husband are already backing Harris. The previously anointed, Biden and Clinton, are busy at the old anointment game again.

Update – U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who has already endorsed Harris, thinks Democrats will coalesce around Harris — and she’s right. They’re already coalescing. … As much as they say they want an open and transparent process, they’re aiming for a fait accompli process.