So much for the open and transparent process that would generate lots of attention and excitement for Democrats in Chicago. Instead, Democratic leaders have opted for a fait accompli coronation of Kamala Harris, one in which they’ll allow others to technically contend for the nomination but make it almost impossible for others to mount a serious challenge to Harris. …  

Just to be clear: The Harris positives

… Though I don’t like the idea of an anointment, I think a Harris nomination would clearly be a net plus for Dems compared to the alternative of Biden staying in the race. Harris has slightly stronger poll numbers than Biden. She will energize black and female voters. At least for now, she’ll stop the hemorrhaging of support Dem Congressional candidates have been seeing of late. She’ll probably have a boatload of money available for a new campaign. And she can mount a serious campaign right away, rather than wait till next month’s party convention. …

... Lacking the luxury of time …

But is Harris the strongest Dem candidate to beat Donald Trump? Probably not. So can Dems do better? On paper, yes. In reality, probably not. They simply don’t have the luxury of time to fully vet other candidates. That’s why I’m sort of accepting the fait accompli process as a fait accompli, even though I’d prefer a more open process. …

Those giddy progressives …

… Notice how progressives such as Rachel Maddow and Elizabeth Warren are pumped by a Harris candidacy? They should be. Harris is a progressive, even though the NYT describes Harris as a “moderate,” or at least she’s “center-left by California standards.” By California standards? Is she running for president of California?

... Give the Times credit

But give the NYT credit for throwing a little cold water on the rush to anoint Harris, with stories like “If Harris Is the Nominee, It Still Won’t Be Easy to Beat Trump” or “Some Black Voters Say They Wonder if a Black Woman Can Win” and “The Promise, and Risks, in Turning to Kamala Harris.” … Can you imagine Fox News running similar stories about Trump? No you can’t.  …

… The VP sweepstakes: It’s begun …

 … Don’t you get the impression that both Mark Kelly of Arizona and Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, both of whom have been mentioned as possible vice presidential candidates, are angling for a VP spot on a Harris ticket by endorsing her so quickly? … Both would help Harris. White moderate males in key swing states etc. etc. …

Remembering Ted Kennedy’s awful campaign

… Getting back to the topic of Dems not having enough time to vet other candidates : I was talking to someone yesterday about how you need to be careful what you wish for in politics. And I recalled how, many moons ago, I was pumped at the prospect of Ted Kennedy running for president, only to see him fall flat on his face when he finally did so. He was not only a functionally awful campaigner, he was also a divisive campaigner. So the moral of my story: I may prefer someone like Michigan’s Gretchen Whitmer as the Dem party nominee. But I really don’t know if Gretchen Whitmer would be a good campaigner.  And so …