As we wait patiently for the post-weekend polling — which will estimate the size of the Harris | Walz post convention “bump” in popularity (if not necessarily swing state electoral votes, yet)… [but we do know that TV-viewership of the four-day festivities in Chicago drew an average of 21.8 million viewers, according to Nielsen data, eclipsing the audience of the Republican National Convention by nearly 15 percent].

I am pretty sure the Powerline boys will come to regret labeling this as a “deja vu” campaign. The echos are strong, to be sure: McCain (very old, albeit far more honorable than Tangerine, in demeanor) v. brilliant, young, vital, idealistic Mr. Obama… then in desperation, Mr. McCain added a wildly-unpopular, inexperienced, unserious running mate in Sarah Palin (sounds a lot like JD Vance!)… and lost in a landslide.

In his own national elections, Mr. Obama never lost. Not once, stretching back to his Senate run. He served two full terms, and was term-limited out. His greatest offense (apparently — according to Fox and the GOP!) was… wearing a tan suit. [They lost their minds.]

In national elections, Trumpism has gone 0-3 of late. Soon to be 0-4. And he’s a convicted felon and widely-notorious reprobate. Oh — and he’s 78 years old (karma is a b!tch — the age barb / bomb he lobbed at Mr. Biden, is now his own albatross). Kamala is nearly thirty years younger than he is — just like Sen. Obama, compared to Sen. McCain ’08.

So guys… by all means, calling Madame President a re-run of Obama (’08 — or even 2012!) really isn’t going to find any new votes or voters, for Tangerine.

I hope to G*d he dumps Vance, and in an ersatz “Apprentice” moment, adds Kennedy as his new running mate, reopening and closing his convention — as a Zoom call. Chaos is his only remaining brand equity.

Chaos.

Buckle up boys. American adults want steady, serious leadership — even if they occasionally disagree with her, they’d rather see a steady hand — than the “scandal of the week” and chaos — of the Tangerine fever-dream 2.0.

Cheers.