I haven't read the entire thread, so forgive me if I cover a point someone else made. My initial thought was that the Dems should nominate Josh Shapiro who is the extremely popular Governor (65% approval) of a crucial battleground state. I also think he would do very well in both WI and MI for the same reasons he is so popular in PA. By my reasoning he could win those 3 states and thus the election...
But I guess name recognition is a major stumbling block,and there is a sense his time is 2028. I still follow Prof Lichtman (who isn't making an official prediciton till after the DNC, and he still believes the Dems are in good position. He doesn't put much stock in polls (like me) and when you consider how reliable the ones posted by members of this board were in 2022,2023,and 2024 (so Far) it's easy to see why.
But Lichtman makes an essential point, and points out it has to be Biden or Harris. Because 2 of the keys the Dems have in their column Incumbency/ no official opposition turn on the candidate being a member of the current Admin. Lichtman points out that since 1900 the in power admin has lost every election whenever there was an open seat (no incumbent) nominated thru a primary. Clinton in 2016 being the most recent example...
He believes that Biden is still option A, with Harris being plan B, with the provision that Biden also resigns and throws his support behind her. That means in Nov she would be the incumbent with an established,if short, record to run on. If Biden releases his delegates to her, then the Dems preserve both the Incumbency and no primary key.
My biggest disappointment with Biden is the missed oppty he had at the debate to prosecute the case vs Trump. He should have hammered Trump for every lie he told, as well as brought up Project 2025. I believe Harris is capable and would have done that, and she'd have run rings around Trump.
The thing is people say they don't like their choices, want someone fresh and younger, and Harris gives the Dems the ability to confront both those issues. She is the only one who would have access to all the raised campaign funds, and as a member of the current Admin she would be able to share in taking credit for the achievments that Dems and Independents appreciate from the Admin without having the old age baggage of Biden.
I also think they should nominate Shapiro for VP, and take advantage of the mistake Trump made with Vance. He would really help the ticket in PA, as even Trumpers voted for him in the election vs ultra-MAGA Mastriano. And I believe in comparison with Vance Shapiro comes off much more measured and palatible to moderates and Independents...