In the swirling saga of political intrigue, the latest chapter from a new book unveils some surprising antics from the 2020 election. It turns out, even former President Obama had his doubts about Kamala Harris’s chances against Donald Trump. Obama, revered by many like a modern political sage, was reportedly not compelled by Harris’s candidacy. Instead, he allegedly favored Gretchen Whitmer for a top spot, with the idea of a “coronation” for Harris being less than appealing. One might suspect that he saw Harris’s chances against Trump as a long shot, perhaps no more likely than finding a snowball in the Arizona desert.
The book doesn’t stop with Obama’s reservations about Harris. It takes a peek behind the curtain at the Biden campaign, where it seems not everyone was in the loop about the state of the race. The inner workings of the campaign were tightly controlled – perhaps as tightly as security at Fort Knox – with some state directors unaware of how things really looked. The leadership appeared to be on high alert long before Election Day, a fact confirmed by their desperation to have Biden face off against Trump earlier than planned. They hoped an early debate could shake things up, but the shake-up did not unfold as they had wished. Instead, it left Democrats scrambling like a group of picnic-goers caught in a sudden downpour.
The book goes on to portray Obama not as the all-powerful political deity some may believe, but as a man trying (and failing) to wield control from behind the scenes. His efforts to usher in a “mini-primary” or an open convention fell flat. Even seasoned politicians like Congressman Jim Clyburn were not swayed by Obama’s attempts, standing firm in their endorsements of Harris. The failed attempts not only strained relationships but also exposed the limits of Obama’s influence. Perhaps, like a once-popular band struggling to sell concert tickets, his star power wasn’t quite what it used to be.
Meanwhile, the drama within the Democratic ranks didn’t end there. As Biden continued his campaign, some were reportedly taken aback by his less-than-polished debate performances. The book provides a metaphor that even a seventh grader might chuckle at: Biden’s “cheese had slid off his cracker.” Surely, one would think Biden’s close allies, like Senator Chris Coons, would have been aware of his struggles. But, much like a theater troupe keeping their rehearsals under wraps, Biden’s team maintained a tight circle, with Coons finding himself playing defense when questioned by fellow senators.
And if that wasn’t enough political theater, the alleged behind-the-scenes rivalry between Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer added yet another layer of intrigue. When it came to pushing Biden to the side for the 2020 race, the book paints Pelosi as having fingerprints at the “crime scene,” though Schumer seemed all too eager to claim credit. It’s almost as if they were actors competing for the lead role in a political drama. Schumer’s attempt to paint himself as a mastermind strategist, when things didn’t quite go as planned, would be humorous if it weren’t so transparently self-serving. At this rate, one wonders if Democrats will need more than just a bridge to heal these divides; they might need an entire highway system.
