Dear Kamala,
I’ve never before voted for you but now that you are the presumptive Democratic Presidential nominee it looks like I will have no choice but to vote for you in the 2024 election against Donald Trump. It is not just a slogan but a reality that this is an election we cannot afford to lose. First things first and I understand that you have to actually lock up the nomination and block out any possible Democratic opposition in the next week or two. Then will come the critical decisions involved in planning for the convention and selecting a Vice-President.
As to the planning the convention I trust your political advisors and your own instincts. The convention will be the primary opportunity for you to introduce yourself to millions of Americans who will decide the convention. It will set the tone of your campaign. Day One needs to be thank you Joe Biden. As disingenuous as it might be for the people who pushed Biden out the door to thank him for his service it is a ritual that should not be missed. I am thinking something like the great scene in Pride of the Yankee when Lou Gehrig described himself as the “luckiest man on the face of the earth”. Gehrig delivers his famous speech at Yankee Stadium (youtube.com) More than giving honor to a decent man it will give you the opportunity to begin the campaign by focusing on the significant accomplishments of the Biden administration and knocking out one leg of the Republican attack plan. You need to run on three things, 1. the strength of the record of the Biden administration, 2. the dangers of a potential second Trump administration and 3. on the future. Please don’t forget to campaign on the future and what can be accomplished by a progressive administration beyond just stopping Trump.
Day Two of the convention traditionally is the introduction of your vice president. While personally I would enjoy the spectacle of your throwing it open to the delegates to select their own choice (it happened last, I believe in 1956 when the delegates selected Estes Kefauver over John F Kennedy). The decision however is too important to leave to chance. The election is going to be decided in three possible blocks of electoral votes. In 2020 Biden/Harris won the blue-collar states of Wisconsin/Michigan/Pennslvania (44 electoral votes), the southwestern states of Arizona and Nevada (17 electoral votes) and won Georgia and almost won North Carolina (32 electoral votes). Simple math establishes that wining the blue-collar states will be the key to this election.
Joe Biden won the election in 2020 primarily because the union (and former union) workers trusted him to have their back. Do not fall victim to the myth that blue collar voters are inherently conservative and that you need therefore to pick a nominee who is from the moderate/conservative wing of the party. Pick a candidate who has a history of fighting for the former middle class and you will have a winning tickets.
Here are my suggestions: 1. Do not pick a Senator from a state where the Republican Governor will have the opportunity to select a replacement. That rules out Sherrod Brown who might otherwise be the best choice. It also rules out Raphael Warnock who is one my personal favorites as a potential future president. 2. Do not pick a Governor from a Red State just because they have shown the ability to win Republican votes. Roy Cooper and Andy Beshear are good politicians who have been good Governors, they will not help inspire voters with a vision of how Democratic governance can make our lives and our future better. 3. Do not succumb to the temptation of identity politics and choose a gay male office holder (neither Buttigieg or Polis will help inspire people who have actually worked for their livelihood). Let me put that even more bluntly. Your campaign needs to be about one side who is willing to tax the wealthy to make them pay their fare share versus Trump who is promising more tax cuts for corporations and billionaires. Do not be afraid to choose a second woman or think you have to pick a man to “balance” the ticket. 4. Select someone who can inspire the country, who can stand up to JD Vance, and who is undoubtedly ready to be President if needed.
Day Three of the convention is the demonstration of a vision for the future. Make yours a promise to fulfil the remainder of Biden’s promises. America needs relief from the Right-Wing Supreme Court (remember to use the phrase unelected). Please do more than promise to nominate better judges than Trump but also pledge to push for accountability to the unethical and corrupt justices. America needs a recommitment to the promises of the civil rights movement. Please don’t forget to pledge to pass the John Lewis Voters Rights Advancement Act. America needs a restoration of the new deal of FDR. That would truly be making America great again. Pledge to strengthen Social Security and Medicare and remind everyone that the pledge of universal access to health care has been in the Democratic Party platform since 1948.
Of course, talk about abortion rights. Your are passionate, sincere and credible on that important topic. But don’t forget also to talk about immigration and the horrible image suggested by the Republican’s pledge to round up and deport 10 million undocumented citizens.
Good luck Kamala.