Locked out of power and three years away from knowing, with full certainty, who their nominee for president will be, Democrats remain adrift. They are hungry for leaders, for heroes, for national politicians who might, like a young Barack Obama, inspire them anew. The bench, for 2028, is relatively deep — there is no shortage of governors, senators, former Biden-administration officials, and stray outsiders who may enter the primary — but no single man or woman has emerged from the heap to captivate millions. Obama himself was far from inevitable this time 20 years ago, but he had already had his star turn at the Democratic National Convention in 2004.

No new stars were minted in Chicago last year. At least, none that are readily apparent.

But some Democrats are gaining more traction tha

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