Yep. That's part of the problem with thinking that a Gretchen Whitmer or Josh Shapiro can come into the race at this late date and run effectively. Those guys don't have a national campaign team put together that can run a national race, much less field offices in Nevada or Arizona. Staffing that up takes time. The advantage of a Presidential primary (for a non-incumbent) is that the race for the nomination gives them many months, nearly a year in some cases, to build up campaign teams in most states around the country.

Yes, this is an issue, but I don’t see it as insurmountable as you do. There are a precious few advisors who are vital to a campaign, may be half a dozen. Strategy, media, personal, etc. For the most part the campaign is staffed by people who are semi-fungible. They work on multiple campaigns; if they weren’t on this one they would be on another one; they were last year and they will be next year. Running a field office is important so you know who the local pols and power brokers are, but Phoenix or Houston is going to have a different person next year anyway.

I can see if someone strong came in and took over the reigns, they need to 1) assess the candidate and the race 2) pick and articulate a strategy, and 3) make sure it’s followed, in personal appearances, in media, in *everything*. Fewer people is probably better than many in this situation.

Would there be some who would have worked. Better for Biden than Harris or Newsom or Buttegeig? Sure. This is not going to be a team carefully assembled over years with loving craftsmanship, and there are going to be conflicts between whoever that “new” person is and the existing power structure around Biden, but tough. Sometimes you don’t get a pony when you wish for it.

Of course it’s a big risk. It’s a big risk to do nothing and whistle through the graveyard, too.