The serious contenders to become the Democratic Party’s 2028 candidate for President, in no particular order, are Pete Buttigieg, Andy Beshear, Mark Kelly, Josh Shapiro, Kamala Harris, JB Pritzker, Gavin Newsom, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rahm Emanuel. With Emanuel seemingly lowest in the various poll rankings.  That despite being the most qualified by way of rank and experience in the Clinton and Obama administrations, his term as Chicago’s mayor, his stint as Ambassador to Japan and his three terms in Congress. He and those he assisted have been consistent winners in electoral politics.

Bobby Bacala

His recent tough love lecture to the Israeli people and government at Tel Aviv University was de facto his entrance into the 2028 primary campaign.  And like Nostradamus or the Hunchback of Notre Dame, who I’ve confused since Bobby Bacala triggered that confusion, I predict that once the campaigns are formalized and infused with “a whole lot of spending money”[1] by PACs, you will hear from the Democrats left fringe their version of the Trumpsters shrill repetition of our 44th President’s full name – Barack HUSSEIN Obama – but in this case the chant will be “his name is Rahm ISRAEL Emanuel need we say more?”

Barack HUSSEIN Obama & Rahm ISRAEL Emanuel

That three of the likely and viable contenders are Jews (not merely Jew”ish” as candidates like AOC and George Santos were when that pretension helped get them elected[2]) promises a fascinating dynamic in the coming campaign. With most of the numerically modest but powerful Jewish segment of Democratic contributor/voters starting with the belief that “a Jew is not electable this time and especially during a period when anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism are pervasive in the party’s left flank”.  But a minority of those Democratic Jews – like me – believe that this time is perfect for a Jew to be elected given the American tradition of pretending that prejudice and discrimination have disappeared by merely electing one from among the targeted minority group.  Recall the widespread declaration that Obamas’s election ushered in a post-racial America. “Not on your tintype girly girl.”[3]

Mark Kelly

Of course, the midterm results will influence the 2028 choice. If Democratic Socialists like Francesca Hong (Wisconsin) and Abdul El-Sayed (Michigan), assuming they win their primaries and Troy Jackson (DSA endorsed) win elections in purplish states, then the list for 2028 and their relative strength changes substantially.  If they and similar DSA candidates lose in swing states, then the lineup above stays pretty much as it is, as does the viability of a Jew as candidate.  Among the three or four – if John Ossof jumps in as seems likely – then among these well qualified candidates Rahm ISRAEL Emanuel would be the strongest in the general election and likely will contend for the nomination with Mark Kelly, the most electable among the gentiles.

[1]   George Harrison “I’ve Got My Mind Set On You.”

[2]   In 2018 AOC pretended that she was of Sephardic Jewish heritage when that helped get her elected.  It was part of her overall identity fakery, which included a fictitious cleaning woman mother and a working-class background.  When in fact she was raised in upscale Yorktown Heights, New York and beneficiary of a trust fund.

[3]   Meredith Wilson “Music Man.”