Former British Prime Minister Harold Wilson, during the general election of 1964 said, that “a week is a long time in politics.” Consider now the roller-coaster ride that has been the American presidential race in recent days.

After the disastrous performance of incumbent President Joe Biden in his debate with Donald Trump the Republicans were “odds on favourites” in betting circles to have another go around with Donald Trump at the helm of the most powerful nation on earth, the United States of America.

Pressure had been mounting on Joe Biden to step down as his Democratic Party’s nominee. He was old and getting older. In the middle of that mounting pressure the already weakened Biden was stricken with COVID and made even weaker. That turned out to be the tipping point. All seemed lost for the Democrats. Time was running out and Biden was resisting all attempts to have him step aside.

Then came COVID. It was apparently the “deus ex machina”. In Greek theatre it was “deus ex machina” or “the machine of the Gods” was the device that radically changed the plot of a play. That is what happened. Joe Biden finally stepped aside to the relief of the Democrats.

Entering now from stage left, to continue in the theatre metaphor, was VP Kamala Harris. Everything changed and the presidential election scheduled for November of this year was back on the table. Why? The answer is political energy. The election to date had been a competition between two incredibly old men. Joe Biden and Donald Trump both were running with their “best before date” near expiration. The departure of Joe Biden unleashed new life in the Democrats. New money poured in. New volunteers poured in. It was just what the political doctor ordered. The Democrats smiled and got back a spring in their step.

Now in this election there came into play a critical mistake on behalf of the Republicans and Donald Trump. It was the classic mistake of arrogance. Trump was certain he was going to win against Joe Biden. That certainty was cemented in the debate. Trump was so confident he made JD Vance his choice as running mate. It was a choice made, not to reach out to someone who could expand voter appeal in the election but rather to someone who would help put the right wing MAGA stamp on a new Trump presidency. That turned out to be a serious error.

JD Vance was a mistake and I suspect the party knows that now, but it is too late. There were better choices to be had. Vance is lined up in lock step with Trump all geared up for a fight with Joe Biden who, of course, is no longer the Democratic candidate. Someone wiser than I said “the dynamics of power changed.”

The race to the White House is no longer a race between two old guys. Kamala Harris, who is going to be the Democratic flag bearer, is a prosecutor by trade. She referenced that when she talked about her time as a prosecutor and said about Trump confidently that “she knew his type.” It was a great line.

That is not to say she is destined to become the first woman to become a US President. I do however have a strong suspicion because Americans are a decent lot. It is a much-flawed nation but at its core there is a fundamental decency in its people. The nation is looking for an excuse to vote AGAINST Donald Trump. Voters will get their chance to tell us who they are when they go to the polls. Their votes will be about economics and about women’s rights and about race and about taxes.

The election is not until November, and it is still a long way to the finish line and as Harold Wilson said; A week is a long time in politics.

You can contact Jim Furlong at [email protected]