A presidential preference survey for the upcoming 2028 elections was conducted in January, revealing surprising results. While many names filled the list, catchphrases for mediocrity clung to third-from-bottom spot, with former Vice President Kamala Harris gathering a scant portion of support among Democrats. With her dwindling criterion and increasingly insignificant influence, her ranking underscores the disillusionment of Democrats with their available options.
Shadowing these disappointing figures was ESPN host Stephen A. Smith, who scraped up a meager 2% of the vote. Although much-beloved for his place in television sports commentary, his debut in the political landscape heralded what one might consider a preordained conclusion: lack of faith in figures without political credentials.
Smith, the beloved host of ESPN’s ‘First Take’, has generated mass appeal, primarily among the youth of varying backgrounds. While he might strike a chord with such a demographic, this turnout enhanced the sense of dismay among the Democratic voters, as leadership prospects begin to look rather grim.
Adding yet another blemish to the current Democratic landscape, Smith is frequently seen on Fox News and other political shows. His frequent exchanges with persons like Sean Hannity or Bill O’Reilly, despite making for compelling television, strike a number of Democrats as unwelcome and disconcerting, considering their alliance to differing political ideologies.
Highlighting his departure from traditional politics, Smith himself stated, ‘Democrats require somebody with influence, somebody with pizzazz. We need individuals who influence minds and hearts …Where are these Democrats? I don’t see them around’. This contentious stance, though it may appeal to some, further erodes faith in the already teetering Democratic Party.
Engaging in what appears to be self-ridicule, Smith added, ‘I am a potential candidate, and it’s embarrassing. It’s a stark insult to the Democratic Party that people perceive me as a potential presidential candidate’. This scathing self-critique only further highlights the disillusionment within the party’s ranks, adding a bitter note to the general Democratic sentiment.
Known Harris advocate, billionaire Mark Cuban, seemed almost comically supportive of Smith’s potential run, stating, ‘I hope he runs. His energy alone would be a plus.’ Cuban’s misplaced optimism seems a desperate attempt to inject some positivity into the bleak Democratic scenario, although it tends to render his endorsement hollow at best, poking fun at the current situation rather than contributing sensibly to the dialogue.
Pollster Frank Luntz conveyed his apprehensions, remarking Smith would be ‘instantly credible’ and would outshine any typical politician in a debate. Luntz’s concerns, while perhaps valid, suggest that the specter of unconventional political candidates becoming the norm, rather than the exception, in the Democratic Party is a future to be cautioned against.
Support for Smith was not unanimous, however, with prominent Democratic strategist James Carville vocally sceptical. He stated, ‘When it comes to sports, I find him to be really insightful. When it comes to politics, he doesn’t know anything’. Carville’s stark difference of opinion seems justified, as the plunge into political arenas by less-qualified individuals only acts to diminish the party’s credibility and further widens the cracks within.
Although Carville’s comments put things into perspective, it’s worth noting that Smith’s support sits at a mere 2%, hardly a mandate or any significant endorsement. This lack of enthusiasm for Smith serves to underscore the disillusionment of Democrats with the state of their party and the available candidates.
Despite the 2028 election being four years away, the current political climate mirrors the chaotic lead-up to the 2016 election for Republicans. When leading candidates included the likes of Jeb Bush, Scott Walker, and Ted Cruz, Donald Trump barely scratched 5% of the vote, ranking tenth on the Republican preference list.
This time around, Democrats seem to be facing a similar crisis of faith and identity, with unconventional and politically inexperienced figures like Smith gaining more attention than is perhaps warranted. The parallels are both striking and disconcerting, shaping a grim future for a party grappling with internal conflict and an unclear path forward.
In conclusion, the Democratic Party finds itself in a precarious position with potential candidates like Stephen A. Smith and the jaded former Vice President Kamala Harris. Questions about the party’s future viability and direction linger as unconventional figures make their debuts, eliciting a mix of ridicule and divisive discussions within party ranks.