Excellent piece, Mookie Spitz.

Even winning this election, Democrats must do some serious soul-searching.

Why is this election so close? Even with the mistake of running initially with a candidate past his time and then replacing him with another uninspiring candidate (although, to her credit, Harris has improved with practice).

That said, the risks of electing Trump are too high. His protectionist and isolationist policies (continued with Biden) will not make Americans richer or safer. And while many of our institutions are flawed, they don't deserve tearing down. On the international front, Biden's performance has been mediocre at best, but Trump's was buffoonery—which he would exercise again in a more complicated world.

But back to the Democrats.

They can reconnect with lost sectors of the population simply by being present. For decades, they abandoned rural and small-town America because of the odds of winning. Republicans filled the gap -- and any relationship is better than none.

Democrats must reclaim the lost territory on the ground. Airdrops from Washington, however well intended, can't achieve this.

Many Thanks. Best.