Presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke's promising start on the campaign trail is now a distant memory. After enjoying a vaunted Vanity Fair cover and plenty of media fawning, he now sits at almost the very bottom of the pack with polling in the low single digits. Any real momentum that once propelled him has all but disappeared. Still, he remains as passionate as ever, if only to draw the fleeting spotlight unto himself while it still lasts.

At last week's messy Democratic debate, Beto came out swinging. In a still-crowded field of candidates containing more experienced and likable politicians, he stands out for one reason: his radical approach to everything. As he grows more desperate, his campaign proposals and promises seem more outlandish. A prime example is his support for a mandatory gun buyback program targeting AR-15s and AK-47s. The crowd cheered and now his campaign website sells t-shirts emblazoned with "Hell yes we're going to take your AR-15."

The odds of Beto winning the Democratic nomination are slim to none. Despite his insistence, he won't be taking guns away from Americans whose right to own them is protected by the Constitution. He is rightly criticized for his extreme politics by Republicans. He will not be our next president and everyone knows this, including him.

O'Rourke, a failed Senate candidate and soon-to-be failed presidential hopeful, may not represent the current Democratic Party, but he does represent its very near future. For that reason alone, conservatives must remain vigilant.

Vice President Joe Biden still maintains a comfortable lead in the race to the White House. He is the safe choice and someone who would potentially fare better against President Trump in the general election than any other candidate. At least, that is their hope. Though he is old, white, and not "woke" enough for leftists, his connection to President Barack Obama is just enough to make him acceptable to Democratic voters. His supposed moderacy is more palatable to voters. But the sun is soon to set on his brand of politicking.

A Democratic Party that continues to lurch to the Left with its support for abortion on-demand, socialism, bloated entitlements, and a larger, more invasive federal government that seeks to control all areas of our lives is looking for leaders who have absolutely no interest in compromise.

It's not the Bidens of the world who fit this bill, it's the Betos.

Conservatives mock O'Rourke's plans for gun confiscation because they are wild and anti-American. Along with our derision of the man, we also breathe a sigh of relief since we know that he is not bound for the White House at present. But whether or not he will be inaugurated to any national office someday actually means very little. His stepping out onto the stage and declaring proposals that not too long ago were only spoken of in private is evidence of the extreme transformation of the Democratic Party. That his message is not just heard but received, even to a small degree, is but one step closer to greater, more mainstream acceptance.

At one time, the more moderate politics of Bill Clinton dominated the day. Eventually, Democrats morphed into a party that believed Obama would be their big government savior. But it's apparent that the 44th president was never the conclusion, only the next step in a progression toward further extremes. Other 2020 candidates, such as Sanders, are certainly radical in their own right. But whether they admit it or not, they're passing the torch to younger candidates like O'Rourke, whose influence will continue to spread in the coming decades long after they are gone.

On Nov. 3, 2020, President Trump may well be victorious in his second bid for the presidency. But even if he does win, that success is only short term. Republicans, while focused on existing crises and political conflicts, must also look to 2024 and beyond. If not, an American reality where the extreme Left is the center norm is sure to catch them by surprise.

Kimberly Ross (@SouthernKeeks) is a contributor to the Washington Examiner's Beltway Confidential blog and a columnist at Arc Digital.