AS human beings, we thrive on competition; lack of it should give the victor little comfort and demeans the victory. Like every illness has a symptom, whether hidden or visible, fierce competition solidifies victory. The creator in his wisdom saw it fit to companion over 70 per cent of our body parts — two eyes, two ears, two feet, and the list goes on. If one fails we use the other. This should give us a telling lesson, we must always have viable alternatives.

The inevitable projected crowning of a nominee for the Democratic Party, without equal competition is, to say the least, not the best option to benefit the Democratic Party to make history, as that would be their first triple for the presidential crown. More fitting is that the final leg is completed by one of the country’s — if not one of the world’s — most popular and bright women, Hillary Rodman Clinton. She could be a second-time resident at the White House, acquiring that upgraded status of president of the United States.

The early nominee coronation should not be mistaken as a public endorsement, as its occurrence could be classified as freakish. This observation is in no way meant to impugn the electability of the other competitors, but reality is not concealed in plastic bags.

Clinton’s strongest contender is Bernie Sanders. He’s affable, likeable, and a democratic socialist whose brand has endeared him to a large following in the Democratic Party, as well as independents who have no great affection for Hillary Clinton, and may not be willing to give her their votes. Despite the love affair with the electorate, his electability is dimmed as the democratic socialism is not prominent in the galaxy of American politics now or the foreseeable future. That, I believe, is the main stumbling block in his quest for White House occupancy, making that ambition downgraded to a mere visitor or guest of the occupant.

Let us take our thoughts on a journey, leaving on the doorsteps all forms of bias, and engage our thoughts rationally.

Think of the dangers of the lack of competition.

Thirteen months from the presidential election, first in the party’s history for decades, why are there only two — truly one — viable candidate(s) offered by the Democratic Party? If there were no Hillary Clinton, would Bernie Sanders be the nominee? Is it that they are treating the front-runner as a first-term sitting president who is never opposed? Isn’t that a rash, calculated gamble that could result in the will of the people not electing the president they wanted usurped? If for any reason the nominee is a flayed candidate and loses to another unlikely Republican candidate, would that be in the best interest of the country?

Shouldn’t the nominee be fully tested going through the rigours of debates and hard campaigning using the opportunity to meet more of the electorate, exposing and displaying the knowledge and skills befitting the process? This does not mean it won’t happen with the present line-up, but not on the scale necessary for the maximum exposure. A coronation is in order, but announcing it in autumn, instead of the normal late spring or early summer, could make the presidential river more difficult to cross.

The Biden factor

Vice-President Joe Biden’s decision not to run was met with disappointment across the country. The highly anticipated Clinton/Biden showdown in the proceeding months reached a climactic end on mid-afternoon Wednesday, October 21, 2015. I watched the announcements unfold, admittedly with some level of disappointment, diminishing the excitement and entertainment that was anticipated would follow during the primaries. But the dignified manner in which the vice-president made the announcement, you were, by compulsion, forced to accept his reasons: family, waited too long, and his personal tragedy of the loss of his son. It was most heartening the kind words expressed by key members of the Republican and Democratic parties, for moments I thought it was a eulogy at a funeral — the time when people mostly show how they appreciated you, refusing to tell you how they feel while you are living. It was testimony to the deeds of a great public servant, a super politician, and an exemplary family man who entered representational politics at the age of 29.

Joe Biden’s decision not to run may be less of a blessing than the Clinton backers and supporters may believe. An athlete running against the wind can never know how competitive they are without viable competition. What now with Joe Biden not throwing his hat in the ring?

My view is that the Republican party is breathing a sigh of relief not having to run against the likeable vice-president who has been a heartbeat away from the presidency for the last seven years. Will the Democrats who were wishing for Biden to run now coalesce around Hillary?

A look at a bigger danger lurking from within the Republican Party, and a likely spider-webbing of the Republicans against Hillary Clinton having declared them as her enemy, could find some early bonding of candidates with whomever they see can be the nominee. As she will be getting a lot of attacks most likely from all Republican candidates, Hillary’s Christmas gift could have come too early, an Easter egg would still be a good gift. However, she has a lot of time to repair breaches, goodwill, and use celebratory time to reach out to independents and Democrats who don’t really like her.

Over the fence

In making assumptions and subsequent conclusions we have to speculate. It is said: “Speculation is fodder for fertile minds and should only germinate if the thoughts have any semblance of reality.” Sentiment, at times, overcomes our better judgement, putting to sleep our rational thoughts.

Let’s say a wave of sentiment sweeps the electorate, like a ‘Carsonmania’, which carries him to the White House. This political cycle is dangerously poised, as voter apathy has already shown signs of coming to life with a vengeance. Some 51 per cent of the electorate is showing more support for the non-traditional candidates Ben Carson and Donald Trump.

Carson is a legendary surgeon but the dumbest politician amongst all candidates — though second in all the polls behind Trump, who says he would use Carson as a running mate if he becomes the nominee. Does anyone take Trump seriously?

Further, I find it odd that they both requested secret service protection which they are entitled to have. Carson, it is said, was advised to have. But Donald Trump, one would figure, could spend a couple hundred thousand of his own money for his security, saving the taxpayer the amount.

All the hypothetical match-ups saw Hillary losing to all Republican candidates; what will the next polls show? If it repeats the results will the Democrats take it seriously and secretly try to find other viable candidates or surrender the presidency to a Trump, Carson, Marco Rubio, Jeb Bush, and a rising Ted Cruz tea party foundation member? With the House and the Senate up for grabs could the Democratic Party be poised for a triple walloping? Or the Republicans?

New polling data has seen Donald Trump leading in every single poll as the nominee despite his high ‘unfavourable’ rating. It must, however, be noted that 58 per ce of likely voters polled liked him because he comes across as authentic, a term hardly used as a characteristic of politicians, and a high 42 per cent see him as the likely nominee, despite the nonsensical utterances by some political surrogates that he is a Democratic plant. The politics for the Republican Party in the big race does not count them on the mat, as Clinton may face a ‘Carsonmania’ — adding mania to Trump would be too much.

The political wind is blowing favourably at the moment in the direction of Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, will any, or both of them be waiting at their party headquarters on November 8, 2016 to concede or celebrate? But, then, it is 382 days away, a lot can happen, as a day in politics can be like eternity.

Tony Miles is a government pensioner and author of Human Weaknesses, Forgiveness epitomised. Send comments to the Observer or tonymiles1940@gmail.com.