President Biden’s age — and whether he should stay or go — nearly tore Democrats apart this summer.
In fact, a decision for the president to bow out earlier — and give other candidates, along with Vice President Kamala Harris, the chance to run for the Oval Office — may have salvaged the election for the party.
The divide between old and new and the direction of the party is threatening to drive a wedge through the Democratic coalition. In fact, the race between Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., to serve as the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee represented a microcosm of that skirmish.
The 74-year-old Connolly, recovering from esophageal cancer, bested the 35-year-old Ocasio-Cortez for the high-profile spot in the Democratic Caucus recently. The ranking Democrat on that panel will duel daily with Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky. Connolly is also expected to serve as the party’s lead attack dog for looming tangles with the incoming Trump administration.
LIBERAL MEDIA HOSTS SLAM DEMOCRATIC PARTY AFTER AOC LOSES TOP SPOT ON HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., came up short in her bid to become her party’s leader on the House Oversight Committee. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Comer was rooting for Ocasio-Cortez. He knew selecting her would amplify her positions as to the direction of the party.
“I hope they put her on there because she symbolizes what the Democrats stand for. She’s a socialist. She’s the architect of the Green New Deal in the House,” said Comer.
It was a generational choice for Democrats.
Youth versus experience.
But what about the future of the party?
Ocasio-Cortez is an icon of the progressive movement. She’s one of the highest wattage stars in Congress — albeit sometimes a lightning rod.
Does the party want to tout liberal pols like Ocasio-Cortez — which would resonate in the left-leaning, multicultural precincts of Jackson…
