“I’m certain it’s his for the asking,” stated James Zogby, a DNC member who beforehand served on the occasion’s Unity Reform Fee. “He’s been a sta
“I’m certain it’s his for the asking,” stated James Zogby, a DNC member who beforehand served on the occasion’s Unity Reform Fee. “He’s been a state chair. He is aware of what it’s like. He is aware of the opposite state chairs. They’re the center and soul of the occasion.”
Biden has not made public whom he prefers to be the subsequent DNC chairman. However many occasion members see Harrison, who’s finest recognized for his problem this yr towards liberal boogeyman Sen. Lindsey Graham, as a pure match. Whereas he misplaced the race by 10 share factors, he raised a shocking $131 million in the course of the marketing campaign — making him the best-funded Senate candidate ever.
Harrison, who unsuccessfully campaigned to steer the occasion in 2017 earlier than throwing his assist to present chair Tom Perez, can be the affiliate chair of the DNC.
Even many progressives, who’ve their ideological variations with Harrison, are happy with the prospect of him on the helm.
Andrew Feldman, a Democratic guide with shut ties to labor unions, stated that Harrison is so well-liked throughout the occasion that it’s not “a lot of a race.”
Not when he has the backing of Clyburn, the congressman who helped resurrect Biden’s marketing campaign when it was on life assist after the previous vp positioned fourth and fifth within the major’s first two early states. Clyburn endorsed Biden proper earlier than the South Carolina major, which Biden credited as having “introduced me again.”
“Jaime’s distinctive life experiences will serve him effectively as chair,” stated Clyburn. “He grew up in rural Orangeburg, South Carolina, and is effectively ready educationally and politically to steer the DNC. His experiences as a state Democratic Get together chair and affiliate chair of the DNC and his latest candidacy have supplied him with a superb understanding of native events and organizations, and a heavy dose of empathy for candidates and their supporters.”
One more reason Harrison has consolidated assist amongst DNC members is due to his expertise as a state occasion chair. Leaders of Democratic state committees are nonetheless annoyed by what they are saying was an absence of correct funding from the DNC underneath former President Barack Obama. Although their monetary assist has been boosted since then, many state occasion chairs nonetheless need one among their very own to steer the occasion and, they hope, adequately fund their organizations. It’s been 20 years since a DNC chairman had prior expertise heading a state occasion.
“There’s no query that the very best occasion chair for us on the nationwide stage can have been a state occasion chair, or no less than in occasion management, in order that they know the entire arrows that come to us each day — the shortage of assets,” stated Jane Kleeb, chair of the Nebraska Democratic Get together. “Jaime brings that have. He additionally brings the expertise of being in a pink state. Look, the truth is simply take a look at the Senate make-up. I feel one of many largest challenges now we have proper now could be that we’re principally a coastal occasion.”
Final month, a bunch of about 70 state occasion chairs and vice chairs despatched a letter to Biden, which was obtained by POLITICO, asking him to “think about the next attributes that we really feel will contribute mightily to the success of the DNC Chair.”
The traits described somebody who “Has served in State Get together Management,” “Has expertise in elevating cash for candidates, committees, and different allied organizations,” and “Has a robust media presence and skill to tackle Republicans.”
As one state occasion chief put it, “We didn’t title Jaime within the letter, however the entire {qualifications} matched Jaime’s resume and expertise.”
Ray Buckley, the longtime chair of the New Hampshire Democratic Get together, was one of many individuals to signal onto the letter. He stated, “I’ll be supporting whoever President Biden suggests,” however added that Harrison “would make a improbable DNC chair … in case you look over the many years, the individuals which are the best are those that have served as state occasion chair.”
In addition to Harrison, a long-shot, anti-establishment candidate who ran beforehand, Sam Ronan, has additionally thrown his hat within the ring for DNC chief. Democrats didn’t title some other present contenders.
Harrison just isn’t considered by progressives as one among their very own. Up to now, he has confronted criticism for beforehand working as a lobbyist for fossil gasoline pursuits. However progressive DNC members stated they recognize his expertise as a state occasion chief, in addition to his assist of occasion reforms within the wake of the 2016 election.
A Biden spokesperson declined to remark for this story.
Joshua Karp, a spokesman for Harrison, referred POLITICO to remarks Harrison made not too long ago on CNN in regards to the submit. “No matter they consider that I can do and be useful on, when it comes to constructing again higher, I am on. I am all in. So, if it is the DNC, name my quantity and I will likely be there,” he stated.
Nonetheless, Harrison’s ascension to occasion chair just isn’t a very performed deal. Former Pennsylvania Gov. and DNC chair Ed Rendell, who’s a good friend of Biden’s, was ambivalent when requested about Harrison.
“He’s very charismatic, and the primary time I heard him communicate I used to be blown away. However we don’t want that as a result of now we have the president. The president turns into the face of the occasion,” he stated. “Can Jaime increase cash? Effectively, he actually raised cash for his personal race. However was that as a result of he was working towards Lindsey Graham? And thirdly, how good of an administrator is Jaime? I don’t know the reply to that. I don’t know him effectively sufficient to know the reply.”
Donna Brazile, one other former DNC chair, stated she didn’t need to speculate on potential candidates for occasion chair till talking to Jen O’Malley Dillon, Biden’s 2020 marketing campaign supervisor. “I do know Jaime, I do know a whole lot of different people who find themselves ready,” she stated.
After Biden faucets a chair, the particular person will likely be voted on by the complete DNC, stated a celebration official, who declined to go on file. There’s usually a gathering across the inauguration, although one has not but been scheduled, the particular person stated.
The DNC rank-and-file has already begun efforts to affect the subsequent occasion chief’s agenda. Members of the Nationwide Democratic Ethnic Coordinating Council penned a letter in November to Perez, asking him to cross it alongside to the long run DNC chair, urging the occasion to rent a “devoted” ethnic outreach aide. One other group of DNC members wrote to Biden calling for him and the subsequent occasion chief to assist quite a few reforms, together with lowering the facility of at-large members and permitting all members to vote on the quantity and placement of presidential major debates.
If he turns into chair, Harrison may also face the tough job of navigating the DNC by way of the subsequent midterm elections, that are nearly at all times a difficult election cycle for an incumbent president’s occasion. And he might want to hold the occasion’s warring factions from going at one another’s throats — one thing that will likely be terribly arduous with out President Donald Trump in workplace to maintain the Democrats united.
“This occasion is in determined want of a significant tune-up. It’s tremendous that Biden and Harris received over the end line. However look what’s behind us. Have a look at the variety of seats we misplaced within the Home. Have a look at the variety of the seats that by no means materialized within the Senate,” stated Brazile. “We’ve to ensure that the subsequent occasion chief will be capable of take us by way of the storm known as the midterms.”