Because Democrats closed ranks around Kamala Harris and now project an image of a party united by joy, it’s easily forgotten that their new nominee was not the first choice of those who played key roles in ousting President Joe Biden, including Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and most especially former President Barack Obama.
Their preferred solution after Biden’s incapacity became undeniable was that Harris should be one among several candidates, and probably not the one who emerged victorious. It’s important to remember that until the day Biden actually surrendered, Harris was joked about as his insurance policy against regicide.
But Biden overturned the apple cart by endorsing Harris as his successor within minutes of announcing that he would quit the race. This defiant last act of real power, giving an insurmountable advantage to a candidate Obama did not want, was inevitably followed quickly by many other Democrats.
Bigger Democratic guns took somewhat longer to line up behind Harris. Pelosi endorsed Harris on July 22, which allowed Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) to add their endorsements to the barrage on July 23.
But Obama waited five days, until July 26, before joining the happy throng. This delay would not have happened if he didn’t have doubts about Harris. He is ruthless in working for Democratic victory and for his own influence over the party, which was why he passed over Biden himself to anoint Clinton as his own successor in 2016. And he recognized, as everyone did until five minutes ago, that Harris was not a top-quality candidate or leader. Obama, though, obviously calculated that his influence over the Democratic Party would be stronger if he gave the final and decisive thumbs up to Harris and then sought to manipulate her, rather than standing alone against her avalanche of support.
Once he was in, he was all in. He grafted his former staff onto her campaign and gave her a “hope and change” makeover. He and his wife, Michelle Obama, used their speeches at the Democratic National Convention to put the glossy Obama seal of approval on Harris. This will help them exercise influence over the campaign and the next presidency, should Harris win. Obama would like a fourth term for Obamaism, just as Biden’s first term was substantially Obama’s third.
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