The New Enthusiasm of the Democrats

A prosecutor against a convicted criminal.

The presidential campaign of the U.S. Democratic Party can be reduced to that phrase, part truth and part jest, which summarizes the new enthusiasm with which the party of President Joe Biden welcomed the change of candidate and the virtual nomination of Vice President Kamala Harris in his place.

It's not that Harris is particularly popular or distinguished in the role of vice president, a position that has only gained prominence in the last 40 years thanks to George H.W. Bush, Al Gore, Biden himself, and the dignity of Mike Pence, the former vice president under Donald Trump, now a candidate again.

But Harris, at 59 years old and with a political career not nearly as long as Biden's, injected the Democrats with a much-needed boost of energy now reflected in renewed enthusiasm, polling numbers, and fundraising. Suddenly, what seemed like a losing campaign due to Biden's image of age and frailty against the energetic Trump, changed radically. Biden's faltering performance in the June 27 debate sparked a rebellion among Democrats and overshadowed Trump's wave of lies and exaggerations.

Biden withdrew from the candidacy on July 21, and by the 24th, Harris was the virtual heir, with Biden's support and that of the party leadership.

Fifteen days later, the image facing Republicans and the United States is that of a revitalized Democratic Party, with growing levels of enthusiasm and involvement. Now, Trump is the old candidate, and what once seemed like a triumphant parade now appears to be a tie with serious chances of defeat.

What was shaping up to be a campaign between a strong, decisive candidate and an elderly, weak one is now a confrontation between an aging aspirant with a shady business history, a political ally of conservative, right-wing, and racist groups, accused of authoritarianism and egocentrism as a leader, boasting about helping to repeal abortion rights, already convicted in a tax case, and claiming presidential immunity to face other charges.

Democrats now dream of using all that past to politically attack their Republican rival. Better or worse, they seem to be planning a campaign where mocking the statements of the egocentric Republican candidate will play a prominent role.

But Trump, known for his tendency to label his opponents derogatorily, has already begun questioning Harris' African-American heritage.

Democratic enthusiasm is at its peak for now. But they will have to maintain it for three more months.