South Middlesex Times

The Democratic Party is quickly aligning behind Kamala Harris following the recent announcement that President Biden will not seek re-election.

President Biden has endorsed Harris for the top of the ticket, and many prominent party leaders have followed suit. Harris has rapidly garnered enough delegates to secure the party endorsement.

David Greenberg, a professor of history and journalism and media studies, provided insights into the implications of this development.

Greenberg explained that while delegates are pledged to Biden, he will "release" them, allowing them to vote as they choose. He stated, "Almost all will vote for Harris because Biden has endorsed her and because everyone is rallying around her." He added that it is unlikely any other candidates will enter the race at this point.

Addressing concerns from Republicans about potential legal challenges to Harris's nomination, Greenberg noted, "I don’t think so. A party is allowed to nominate whoever it wishes. Biden had won the primaries, but he hadn’t yet been nominated. That happens at the convention. So, there’s no law that was violated."

Reflecting on historical parallels with 1968 when a sitting president last dropped out of a race, Greenberg cautioned against drawing direct comparisons. He remarked, "Yes, it’s true at a very basic level that if a party’s candidate feels pressured to drop out...that indicates some weakness in the party." However, he emphasized that despite Biden's condition, he remained competitive with Trump and suggested Harris would likely be competitive as well.

Greenberg also discussed whether a shortened timeline for the campaign would impact Harris's chances. He observed that key moments traditionally occur in the fall when swing voters make their decisions.

In contextualizing this historic moment further, Greenberg commented on Biden's decision: "Although we know from the debate that he’s not as quick and strong as he used to be...he might have been able to win despite being down in the polls." He concluded by highlighting Democrats' urgency in preventing a second Trump term as a significant factor in their decision-making process.