My last column reminded us there is more to life than politics. We are overconsuming and some are overdosing on political news. Lamentably, Donald J. Trump, like no politician ever before, dominates our public life, pressing himself into seemingly every byte and pixel of our media. He even became the chief commentator on the Democratic primaries.
Each of us should find something more substantive to supplant or at least moderate our compulsive political obsession. Unfortunately, the coronavirus has intruded on our political obsession.
But even fears about the ultimate effects of COVID-19 didn’t stop Joe Biden’s sweeping and stunning victory in South Carolina and follow-on Super Tuesday tour de force from re-centering politics in the public mind. Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar folded, endorsed Vice President Biden and helped propel him to front-runner status. Thereafter, Michael Bloomberg and Elizabeth Warren conceded to reality and dropped out.
The Democratic primaries have demonstrated some valuable truths and lessons.
“Money Can’t Buy Me Love.” Bloomberg ought to have taken the Beatles at their word. This determined billionaire spent a staggering $600 million for his short and quixotic presidential quest. Notwithstanding all the recycled cant to the contrary, money does not buy elections. I’m calling this the Bloomberg rule. I will invoke it in answer to those who incorrectly but confidently and naggingly complain that elections are won by the candidate with the most money. True, one can’t run a political campaign without money. But money alone does not bring victory.
The message is more important than the medium. While we’re on Bloomberg we should note that he was woefully unprepared for his one and only debate performance. Sen. Warren skillfully drew and quartered him about women’s claims that they were sexually harassed or discriminated against by his business, his insensitive remarks about women, and his controversial policy as mayor of having police stop and frisk young men of color. In five minutes, Warren knocked him off his newfound perch at third in national polling. Not even massive spending could resurrect his prospects. The first corollary of the Bloomberg rule is that no amount or quality of media can compensate for the lack of an appealing message or candidate.
Minority, disadvantaged and small group candidates don’t necessarily get the votes of those they resemble. The 2020 Democratic race started with 24 candidates, of which six were women, five were people of color, and one, Buttigieg, is gay. African Americans Kamala Harris and Cory Booker didn’t connect with black voters, whereas South Carolina African Americans started the Biden stampede, which swept him to victory in 10 Super Tuesday primary states, including Warren’s home state of Massachusetts and Bernie Sanders’ backyard in Maine. Many who would benefit from Bernie’s giveaways haven’t gone for Bernie. Warren’s detailed plans and gospel-like devotion to protecting little people against corrupt corporations, banks and politicians didn’t translate to votes from those she thought needed her protection. Nor did the baby boomers (and even pre-baby boomers) loose their iron grip on the 2020 presidential race. Sanders and Biden are almost 80.
The lesson: Candidates are not tokens. Black voters don’t necessarily vote for black candidates, Hispanics for Hispanics, women for women, gay voters for gay candidates. While voters from marginalized or historically disadvantaged groups are no doubt pleased to see their group or identity represented on the debate stage, they vote for individuals rather than causes, for a person not an identity, for a candidate not a token.
For all the diversity and female empowerment vibes bandied about in this near eternal primary season, millions of votes winnowed 24 candidates down to essentially two — Biden and Sanders, two veteran, aging politicians, whose personalities, resumes and ideologies are well known. A historic number of women, minorities and non-baby boomers played a key role in choosing them from the most diverse slate of presidential candidates ever.
The lesson: Even old, white men can win the votes of women, minorities and the historically disadvantaged given the right resume, positions and personal qualities.
A political campaign is about money, ideas, message, organization, personality, style, the ability to connect with voters and articulating a message. But, ultimately, it’s about the candidate.
Greg Bell is the former lieutenant governor of Utah and the current president and CEO of the Utah Hospital Association.