The DNC wasn’t about Barack Obama the transformational figure. It was about Barack Obama, the man. While it seems bizarre, I don’t think people knew Barack Obama four years ago. They knew an ideal, not a Democrat.

As long as the unity of the ever-fractious Democratic constituency is tied up in party leaders threatened by term limits and local electoral battles, the party remains one unlucky election away from disarray. Fortunately, they already have a perfect candidate to take responsibility for a party-wide message—the Democratic National Committee (DNC).