Just as the Republicans have done their best to nominate Ronald Reagan, or his latest incarnation, since the 1980 election, the Democrats have been looking for the new JFK since 1963. Several contenders were nominated, but found wanting for one reason or another. At long last, they struck it rich with Obama–young, fresh, charismatic, and a great speaker– in 2008. A more appropriate JFK successor could scarcely be imagined. But now his tenure is winding down, so where do the Democrats go from here?
The likely Democratic nominee is an extremely experienced politician whose campaign theme will be her ability, in spite of (or maybe because of) her many scars, to get things done, because she has succeeded in maintaining relationships with Congressional leaders in both parties regardless of personal and ideological differences, and she knows how to cut deals. In short, great speeches and charisma are all well and good, but it takes an insider with thick skin to make the system move.
It’s perfect. Hillary is the new LBJ.