Politics have long been more about the candidate presenting the policies than the actual policies themselves and this is nowhere more apparent than America in 2025. This reality has led us to a second Donald Trump term and a Democratic party in complete disarray for one reason and one reason only: the Democrats do not have a candidate with aura.
The current political landscape in America includes two opposing parties with about as different of recent fortunes as humanly possible.
Whilst the Republican party controls the presidency, retains the U.S. House of Representatives, holds the majority in the Senate and influences the Supreme Court, the Democrats possess seemingly no power whatsoever. They are helpless as the rest of us to stop the tidal wave of change affecting all aspects of American life.
On one side, the Republican party has completely rallied around President Trump, becoming a one-man operation of sorts where what he says goes and any descent is quickly hushed and eventually removed.
The Democrats on the other hand are entirely lost with no clear path forward in the wake of massive election losses that left them outside the proverbial club, shivering in the cold and hoping to make it back inside the room of power in 2026.
If the Democrats maintain their current strategy of moderate candidates whose goal is seemingly to appease everyone and express no real belief in anything, the 2026 midterms will end about as well as the 2024 ones did — in absolute disaster.
All hope is not lost though, because while the Democratic party needs a lot of work, many of their issues can be solved by locating and unleashing a candidate with aura.
Think of aura as charisma; a certain charm, mystique or appeal that someone possesses that draws people to them or colors their public perception in a positive way. But in regards to politics, candidates with a certain magnetism that draws people in creates a sense of pride amongst voters and encourages them to publicly endorse and support. Notable political figures who exerted “aura” are Barack Obama, John F. Kennedy and Bill Clinton.
And unlike former President Joe Biden, Trump has a certain charm to him once you get past everything else. On podcasts, you quickly forget that he is a politician by profession – he is personable and funny, and he even seems like someone that you might like to hang out with if you knew nothing about the man.
The Democrats do not possess such a candidate, and if they did, they have not fully unleashed one if they do.
The Democrats need a central figure who is capable of shouldering the burden of carrying the party as Trump has. A person who is both able to give rousing speeches and personable interviews. A candidate that people can emotionally invest in, beyond the act of simply voting for a Democrat.
All that matters is a clear message and a figurehead to constantly push that message. Long gone are the days of strong policy and public service experience being requirements for a presidential candidate. You need a charismatic candidate to best push that message or in other words, a candidate with aura.
Obama had an immense aura.
He was likable and charming, an excellent speaker and a man who inspired true devotion from people across the country. He had so much aura that he kick-started his presidential campaign while giving the opening address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention.
If the last few months have shown us anything, it’s that voters do not care what policies you have. They do not have the time or energy to understand what it is you are trying to sell them, they just want to hear a simple message they can rally behind and a candidate they can believe in.
Maybe this candidate will come from outside of Washington D.C., as Trump did. Maybe the candidate is a young Congress member or first-term Senator. Maybe the candidate is Tim Walz who showed some real charm and personality before the powers that be told him to cool the couch talk and effectively muzzled him in the home stretch of the election.
I have many suggestions to fix the Democratic party, more suggestions than could fit into the pages of this paper, but the one that must come first is a candidate who can adequately deliver the party’s message and gain real emotional investment from the people of this country. Just like Trump has done, twice!
If the Democrats ever want to get a candidate back in the White House, they need a candidate with aura to kick the door in first.
But of course, that’s just one man’s opinion.
Categories: Opinion
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