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Photo by Gary Clement/National Post

While the pandemic may have triggered Sanders’ decision to withdraw, sharper political minds than mine say the long knives were out to remove the standard-bearer of U.S. social democracy long before the pandemic struck. Democratic powerbrokers, unhappy with Sanders’ chances of defeating Trump, orchestrated the rise of former vice-president Biden as the alternative.

Exactly what the backrooms see in Biden is far from obvious — outside of the obvious: Biden appears to hold a significant lead over Trump in polls. He also scored well in primary results in key states. Sanders, meanwhile, failed to win African-American voters and lost support among white working classes in key states.

One recent poll gives Biden an edge, with 49 per cent support against 42 per cent for Trump, although Trump is said to be holding his own as the preferred handler of the COVID-19 crisis.

None of these polls and outlooks can be expected to stand up through the long run to the November election and the presidential contest becomes a pitched battle of personalities that seem to be more remarkable for their limitations and flaws than their high stature and integrity.

Socialism, capitalism, liberalism, conservatism, democracy, authoritarianism — all such labels seem to have been wiped from the screen of politics

Republicans and conservatives are out to portray Biden as an unsteady frontman for a Democratic Party that has been turned into a hotbed of leftist radicalism populated by anti-corporate extremists such as Elizabeth Warren and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The plan is to brand Biden and the Democrats as socialists out to stab the heart of U.S. capitalism. If Biden selects a more moderate Democrat for a running mate — such as Pete Buttigieg or Amy Klobuchar — that branding risk could be avoided.