The Democrats’ best politician can’t run

As vice-president for eight years, Joe Biden was always in President Barack Obama’s slipstream. And, sadly for Democrats, that has not changed. He may even be further behind. Mr Obama’s virtual appearance at the party convention was a stark reminder that the candidate on the ballot is not the best politician they have.

What millions watching on television witnessed was Mr Obama unleashed. An angrier, more passionate person than the professorial president he once was.

Over the past four years, Mr Obama has remained committed to the idea that the United States should, as he put it, only have “one president at a time”. He sniped occasionally from the sidelines, but always scrupulously not mentioning Mr Trump by name.

For whatever reason – and it may have been private pressure from his wife – he has now abandoned that principle.

David Axelrod, Mr Obama’s former adviser, called his convention speech the “most historically important one he’s ever given”. It was a watershed moment. Former presidents just do not talk like that about sitting ones.

Mr Obama chose to deliver his vitriolic attack on Mr Trump in Philadelphia, the birthplace of the US. At the Museum of the American Revolution he stood in front of a display about the writing of the US constitution, and cast Mr Trump as a threat to the founding democratic principles of the nation.

It was a sombre setting, picked partly to contrast with the tweets Mr Obama knew would be coming his way. Mr Trump was clearly up for the fight, telling his predecessor: “Welcome Barack ... see you on the field of battle!”

Watching in Delaware, Mr Biden must have been grateful his former boss finally decided to enter the fray. But he must have also thought: “How do I follow that?”

In retrospect, the organisers of the convention may also reflect that it was unwise to have Kamala Harris give her speech immediately after Mr Obama. It was supposed to be her night, as she became the first black woman nominated by a major political party for the vice-presidency. Having the first black president introduce her must have seemed like a nice touch. But it simply made clear that, when it comes to oratory, Ms Harris is no Barack Obama.

In an election that will almost certainly come down to voter turnout, the candidates’ ability to inspire their supporters will be crucial.

There is no doubting Mr Trump will light a fire under his voters.

But Democrats were reminded that the person who does that best for them is not on the ballot. Oh how they must wish Mr Obama could run again.