There Can Be Only One

Kamala Harris has dropped out of the presidential race.  Not exactly a surprise, considering how poorly she's been polling and the turmoil within her campaign.

But it is surprising taking a wider view.  One would have thought, looking at the field earlier in the year, that she'd be at least a top tier candidate.  A young (at least compared to the elders she's running against) senator from the most populous state, she seemed to have a story that would attract the voters.

But her campaign never caught fire.  Perhaps her background as a DA and Attorney General in California didn't play as well with the Democratic base as one might think. (I'm guessing it would have played better with the public at large, but I guess we'll never find out.)

Of course, no matter how many people run, only one can win*.  And in a crowded field, with regular polling and the constant need for money, there'll be plenty of winnowing along the way.  So when people talk about how there are too many candidates, all you can say it just wait, they'll go away soon enough--especially once the real voting starts.

*There's a corollary to only one can win.  That also means someone has to win.  It doesn't matter if you've got ten great candidates or the weakest lineup ever.  Once the dust clears, there'll be someone on top.