I’d just note that there were some who wanted an open convention and for that to play out as happens with multiple candidates. I was one of them. So was Nancy Pelosi, and there were others who did not want a coronation. But yes, with Biden’s endorsement opposition collapsed and/or she moved to consolidate support, depending on your point of view. I’d just note that the next morning she held an all hands meeting with Biden’s team and corralled them into her camp. Brilliant move, especially considering that some of Biden’s team were lukewarm on her at best.

Yep. There were plenty of people within the party who were, at first, not sold on Harris being the nominee by acclamation. The nomination is a heady prize, and one that is not claimed lightly. It was by no means a sure thing that Harris and her team would be able to get everyone on board with her being the nominee, and it could easily have spun out of control with a single misstep or miscue. I can't imagine how many one-on-one and small-group sessions Harris must have done, with countless power brokers and thought leaders and donors and on, all in a very short time under enormous pressure.

I don't think the Harris of 2020 could have done it. She's gotten better at some aspects of the job of politics since then. That doesn't mean she's going to be a stellar candidate in all facets. It just means that she demonstrated an enormous amount of political skill navigating from "one of many options" to "she's the choice."