Democrats are counting on Kamala Harris to repeat Hillary Clinton’s 2016 defeat.

Democrats may be setting themselves up for a repeat of Hillary Clinton’s 2016 defeat by rallying around Kamala Harris, but they seem to be content with that outcome.

Despite Clinton’s loss to Trump, congressional Democrats managed to gain seats in the House and Senate that year.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was determined to end President Biden’s re-election bid knowing the possible damage he could cause to down-ballot Democrats.

According to the party’s internal polling, there were grounds for a coup.

Biden’s decision to step aside was not entirely selfless – he was faced with the choice of being blamed for Democratic losses or dropping out and letting someone else take responsibility for the outcome.

With his chances of a second term over, the most vulnerable House and Senate Democrats were quick to call for his ouster.

Now that Biden’s re-election dream is dashed, the question arises: Are Democrats ready for a fresh start?

Despite her age, Vice President Harris carries the burden of Biden’s legacy.

With Biden still in office, Democrats cannot argue that Trump, younger and more coherent, is too old for the presidency.

Harris cannot escape the record of the administration she shares with Biden, which includes issues such as inflation, illegal immigration, and other crises.

What new perspective does she bring to the table?

One of her main credentials is being a woman, but the administration’s recent Supreme Court nominee struggled to define what a woman is.

In her 2016 campaign, Clinton aimed to become the first woman elected to the White House and chose a running mate who appealed to rural and working-class men, but it wasn’t enough to secure victory in key states.

Comparatively, Harris did not perform well in her 2020 presidential bid and dropped out before the first primary race.

Despite her lack of primary competition, Harris is being fast-tracked for the nomination without having won a single Democratic primary.

While she might fare well in polling due to media support, her choice for VP may not differ significantly from past candidates who failed to tip the scales in Democrats’ favor in key battleground states.

Trump, having gained experience since his last election, remains a formidable opponent who has proven himself against top-tier challengers.

Although a fresh choice for running mate might improve their chances, the fundamental calculus of the election remains unchanged.

Harris is running with a combination of Biden’s record and Clinton’s profile, which may not be a winning formula, but one that party leaders have chosen to embrace.

Daniel McCarthy is the editor of Modern Age: A Conservative Review and editor-at-large of The American Conservative.