Regardless of whether Democrats are entirely pleased with Biden’s picks — can any one Cabinet meet the Goldilocks requirements of just the right diversity, just the right experience and just the right chemistry? — party members know they need to keep one eye on the future. In 2028 — if not 2024 — there will be a sea change in the array of possible presidential contenders. And in Buttigieg, Democrats can envision one such a top-tier candidate who will be more seasoned, more fully formed in the post-Biden years than he was in 2020.
Buttigieg may find himself in the thick of everything, from climate change and emissions standards to racial equity to infrastructure on the Biden agenda. (And given the short tenure of some White House nominees, Buttigieg may “move up” to even higher-profile roles as other secretaries exit their posts.) The job “could provide an opportunity to make a lasting mark,” The Post
reports. And just as important, if confirmed, the perch would give Buttigieg a chance to make a positive, lasting impression. Real excitement in getting the chance to watch a promising career unfold surely explains a good deal of the enthusiasm over his selection.