So many down-ballot candidates outperforming Harris shows ... the fix was in

[PSPS]

11. Slow down, there, Sparky!

Instead if making up silly conspiracy theories, I've found that this is the most reasonable sequence of events.

First, Biden was a weak candidate in 2020 based on the primaries, but he benefited from being a known quantity. He won in the general largely because the country was tired of the four-year-long freak show.

Next, Biden chose Harris as his VP. This was certainly a worthwhile choice because it looked good and she was eminently qualified (the position of VP is largely ceremonial.)

Next, the media destroyed Biden and, instead of withdrawing, he dragged his feet. Remember, he as much as promised that he would not run for a second term in 2019. By dragging his feet, he made it impossible for any other candidate to mount an effective campaign because anyone besides Harris would have to start with no money to finance a campaign and there was only three months until the election.

Finally, Harris herself. Sure, she's qualified, but she's a woman. A black woman. Running for president. Good luck with that in this country. There was ballot splitting galore, so it wasn't due to her being a democrat. Democrats down ballot out-performed their republican opponents across the country.

I find this scenario much more plausible than more of the bamboo ballot type of nonsense.