Rick Holtz
We are just one week and change away from the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
Vice President Kamala Harris and her newly crowned running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, will be officially nominated at the convention, which runs from Aug. 19-22.
Let me bring anyone up to speed in case you have been living under a rock.
President Joe Biden went through the primaries all-butunchallenged. He dropped out of the race last month, paving the way for Harris to be elevated to the top of ticket. He did it for the good of the country and not at all because of his performance in the first debate with former President Donald Trump, who days before had survived an assassination attempt on his life.
The Democrats announced this week that Harris received 99 percent of the votes in a virtual roll call of Democrat delegates. They did this because Biden won all the primaries, so the delegates should have been supporting him in Chicago.
If all this sounds ridiculous, you are correct. The media went from running stories how Harris was a drag on the ticket and one of the most unpopular vice presidents of all time to being a ground-breaking candidate, who will change the electoral map and run the table to win the White House.
The part that had me laughing last week was the back and forth bickering between both sides over the next debate.
Harris challenged Trump to a debate. Trump said sure, let’s have it on Fox. Harris declines and puts out statements how Trump is dodging her for the original debate, which was supposed to be between Trump and Biden on Sept. 10 on ABC.
Is that how all this works now? I get that we are in unprecedented waters, but why would the Sept. 10 debate even be on the table? For that logic, Harris has a previously scheduled debate with Trump’s running mate, Ohio Senator J.D. Vance.
It’s theatrics for theatrics sake. And social media will run with it. And the media carry the water.
Here is an idea. Let’s wait until we have two nominees to schedule anything.
I know they say Harris has the votes now (even though no one really voted), but why are we putting the cart in front of the horse?
Sure, it makes great sound bites. One side is dodging the other. Challenge. Counterchallenge. They could be at it for weeks.
It’s exhausting.
But, be sure of one thing. The polling will tell what the next move is. If Harris does not get a true bump in the polls, look for Biden, who made himself a Lame Duck, to decide for the good of the nation, it’s time for him to retire and let Harris take the country for a spin. After all, a sitting president has a better chance than an unpopular vice president.
But that got me to thinking. Trump’s red hats have a 45-47 on them. At what point does he start production on a 45-48 version of his hat? I’m sure that would create an influx of cash from his supporters.
All joking aside. The theatrics only go so far.
At some point Trump and Harris have to be on the same stage and answer the tough questions. The same is true with Vance and Walz.
The voters deserve the opportunity to hear from the two sides and weigh their options. I doubt anyone out there is truly an undecided at this point.
There is a lot of time between now and November. Shoot, we have not even gotten to the October Surprise yet. Pop your popcorn. This race is going to get interesting.
Rick Holtz is one of the co-owners of the Nance County Journal. Read his column each week in the newspaper and on the website.