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Replace Biden/Harris with Newsom/Whitmer [1]

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Date: 2024-06-28  

When Biden walked on stage last night, my first thought was “oh sh!t.” Trump didn’t look much better; he also got worse as the debate wore on, while Biden occasionally got stoked by anger. But it wasn’t enough. This election, like most recent presidential elections, is about perception far more than policy. After reading through the commentators, I want to field a suggestion from Taggard Goddard. It goes like this:

Sonia Sotomayor retires. She is older, not in great health, and not likely to make it through the next 4 years. Biden should nominate Harris to replace Sotomayor. Despite everything the Republicans will try to do to stop it, I do think they can get it through the Senate. (And Sotomayor can make her retirement contingent on her replacement being appointed by Biden.) Biden then asks Gavin Newsom to run for president. The convention nominates Newsom, with Gretchen Whitmer for VP.

There are several reasons this could work.

First, while Kamala Harris has proven to be an effective VP and is a good politician, there is no way she can beat Trump. A woman, and a Black woman to boot, will be red meat for him — she is exactly what his base fears most. She is too good a target. Besides, she would be an asset to the Supreme Court, which is sorely in need of someone like her.

Second, Newsom is young, charismatic, and has been a good governor (for the most part). He is also a seasoned politician who can better handle the “gish gallop” technique that Trump used to such great effect last night. The contrast between his youth and Trump’s age — and poor health — will be obvious in a way that Biden could not show. Newsom is also the governor of a border state and can tackle Trump’s repeated lies about the border.

Third, putting Whitmer on the ticket further soothes any feathers ruffled by taking Harris off it. Plus she is also an effective governor, and everyone has seen that — unlike Harris, whose accomplishments have mostly gone underreported.

My wife suggests reversing the ticket order — Whitmer / Newsom — but I think Trump will be more flustered by Newsom. He won’t be able to appeal to the misogyny of his followers if Newsom is at the top of the ticket. But it could work this way, too.

Anyway, that’s my thoughts after last night’s train/plane/spaceship wreck.

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