Difference here being Kamala was never liked, they tried polishing a turd and no one bought it. AOC has always been widely accepted by the Left and due to rising popularity and hatred of Trump, is the most popular Dem in the country now. She's already moderated a bit (kissing Isreal's ass) and will probably do so more.
The hatred of Trump has become even more intense and entrenched among the left-most ~40% of the population, but has actually receded a bit in the middle of the electorate where elections are won. Trump and his brand of politics is more popular and accepted with the pivotal swing voters now than it was back in 2020 or 2018.
Those are the voters AOC would need to win back, not the screeching TDS crowd. She does have the ability to appeal to these voters with economic populism, for which she would be a far more credible and effective figurehead than a Kamala/Pelosi type Democrat. The big question will be whether she can make this pitch without alienating the new, upscale base of the Democratic party.
In any case, AOC is more savvy than her detractors give her credit for and should not be underestimated. A lot will hinge on how the economy does under Trump. If it tanks, Republicans will be toast in 2028, no matter the standard bearers on both sides. If it thrives, Democrats will be toast, no matter the candidates.
This post was edited by Black XistenZ on Jun 5 2025 12:45pm