Let's Unpack ThisFollowing President Biden’s announcement that he is exiting the race, we spoke with Julia Azari, a professor of political science at Marquette University, to ask: Where do the Democrats stand after this decision? It's been a chaotic few weeks for the party. The party is very focused on winning and sees Biden as no longer viable because of the June debate, and the weeks of negative news coverage. I’m not sure I would describe what’s happened as chaos so much as a long, messy period of coordination to try to prevent further chaos. And we don’t know what will happen next, but it looks like the party is closing ranks around Vice President Harris. What does this tell you about the state of our political system overall? I think it says the nomination process has made it too difficult to challenge incumbent presidents and is too presidency-centered in general. And presidential candidates are human, so we should expect that sometimes parties will need to act together to make decisions. Is it a risky move to replace the nominee so late in the game? All moves are risky, but this must have seemed like the less risky option. Polls showed alternatives [to Biden] performing better among people who disliked both Trump and Biden, for example. Could a Harris challenger win over the delegates? In theory, yes, but delegates tend to be the most loyal party players and are unlikely to stir the pot unless there’s a reason. Right now, we’re seeing all different corners of the party come out for Harris — moderates, progressives, and the Congressional Black Caucus. It looks like presenting a united front will be very important, though it’s early and, of course, this could change. PS: This interview was edited for length and clarity. | Featured ExpertJulia AzariProfessor of Political Science, Marquette University |
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Read more: A Look at Kamala Harris' Strengths and Vulnerabilities (Vox) Meanwhile, Here’s How RFK Jr. Feels About All This (AP) |