I think that more than 'tact', there was a lot of 'denial, obstinacy and arrogance'. Also some justified confusion and doubt as to what the right course was.

The timing was never going to be perfect, once he'd foolishly decided not to be the 'bridge president handing on to the next generation of great Democrats', and we will never know whether he made it better or worse by delaying for a month.

If he had backed out, and the assassination attempt happened a few days after, it would have fuelled conspiracy theories even more, I guess.

'They switch candidates, then they try to kill our guy - it's a deep state coup!'

Who knows? Harris looks like she should tick several demographic boxes to energise certain communities - above all being a woman, not only for the historic 'yes we can' effect, but also in the context of reproductive rights, Plus two ethnic groups. But as we know, just being from a demographic group doesn't guarantee they will actually want to vote for you, and she didn't prove that popular or likeable - given that the US presidential election is a Ms/Mr Geniality context - in her last primary run or as VP.

The VP thing is a bit of a red herring, maybe. No one 'impresses' as Veep - it's such a dumb role.

We shall see...

If she can overcome all the added ammunition Trump has received in the past month, from a point at which he has already ahead in enough swing states to win, with a month and a half max of effective campaigning time with a unified (read: hastily pasted together) party and campaign machine behind her, that will be some achievement.

To be followed by challenges up to the Trumpian Supreme Court as to the validity of switching candidate after the primaries.

It can't end 'well' any way. We just have to hope for 'least bad', and that she wins (assuming she's actually picked by the party...), and that between 2025 and 2028, the cheeseburgers do an Elvis on Trump.