Part 4/7:
The Landscape of Democratic Candidates
In her assessment, Lee highlighted that Obama had been examining a range of contenders, with Mark Kelly, the senator from Arizona, among those on his potential list. The implication is clear: Harris was not necessarily the first choice for leadership in the party, or even among the party elite.
With this context, Lee explains how Biden's endorsement of Harris went against the wishes of influential players in the party. There was an expectation of a "lightning round" primary to determine the best candidate—something that never materialized due to Biden’s swift endorsement.