Everybody whose livelihood and reputation depends on the result will start putting in their excuses early, just in case things go a bit wrong. And if things go right, look for the puff pieces about the geniuses who made it happen. I am not even sure who the 2026 "Rahm Emanuel (2006)" is, but I am sure that someone will step up to take credit, and some journalists will hitch their wagons to him (probably a him, it is usually a him).
Sure that all sounds a bit cynical, because I am a bit cynical about the people who work in politics professionally. The well-meaning dogooders tend to be driven out by the self-serving self-promoters, the ones who always have one eye on the next job, the next payday.
Then the presidential primary begins. Personnel decisions are good early signals.
