There are, broadly, two ways to become the presidential nominee of one of America’s two major political parties. One is to rise up as an insider, brushing past rivals while taking advantage of a family name, a long run in Congress or the mentorship of powerful elders. Think of the two Bush presidents and Joe Biden. The other way is to win as an outsider, through charisma and chutzpah. Barack Obama and Donald Trump did that. Kamala Harris, the clear front-runner to become the Democratic nominee following Mr Biden’s decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race, belongs emphatically to the first camp. To understand her prospects, start here: Ms Harris is a creature of institutional politics, not a visionary or an ideologue.