General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsCan Dem candidates avoid representing themselves as a referendum on Rump this November?
I honestly don't think it is possible. The Rump has made it very clear to his base that Dems are out to get him. Heck, now he's even taking a trip down to TX to stump for Cruz. He is THAT scared! And just a few days ago I heard O'Rourke assuring everyone that he wasn't even considering Rump at all; he is more concerned with the immediate needs of his constituents.
Is it worth it for November's Dem candidates to avoid discussing the orange elephant in the room, or should we go all in?
Garrett78
(10,721 posts)Every race also involves aspects that are unique to the respective locale.
You run on a platform of ideas and against a platform of opposing ideas. If you can link your opponent to a highly unpopular Trump, you would be crazy to not do so. The extent to which you do that will depend somewhat on your locale.
ProudLib72
(17,984 posts)That is, there is no avoiding it, no playing it down. Beto O'Rourke wants to downplay the message of a referendum so as to not scare away potential voters, but in doing so he may be setting himself up. If everyone "knows" voting for him is a referendum because Fox and the orange one told them so, then they might think he is being disingenuous.
I admit that I might be misinterpreting the psychology of the voters.
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)Heard him speak, he never even mentioned trump. He only mentioned Cruz one time. It was after he talked about visiting almost all the TX counties and that Cruz has visited all of the counties but in Iowa.
I say this because this MO is how he got where he is. Not telling anyone they are crazy to be a republican....but rather about things like.. "we all think TX is great, so why doesn't our
Education system get ranked higher?. We can fix that.
I think it would be odd for him or any similar Dem to change. BUT...they've got to at least defend themselves? There is already a nasty Facebook post making the rounds about his parents. It even says that he uses the name Beto just to get hispanic votes. Just like Obama planned higher office at birth.
It is certainly a dilemma. Think it will be much easier running against trump in 2020.
ProudLib72
(17,984 posts)I'm simply wondering out loud. It makes sense for him to concentrate on local issues. The real question is what will happen when Rump visits to (ostensibly) stump for Cruz. Things could get very interesting.
It's this game of offense/defense. He has been on the defense against the claim of a referendum and on the offense about state policies that matter. But if Cruz and Rump make inflammatory statements about his candidacy being a referendum on the administration, does he defend against it or use it?
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)ProudLib72
(17,984 posts)Instead of voting for a range of Dem policies, it would simply be a vote against Rump.
Of course narrowing down the mid terms to a single issue is ludicrous, but that seems to be what Rump is trying to do: "Don't let the nasty Dems get me!" So on the one hand, you have O'Rourke wanting to show his platform is well rounded and takes several state issues under serious consideration. On the other hand, you have Rump spouting his "All about me" rhetoric.
brooklynite
(94,792 posts)None of the 30-odd candidates I've talked to are discussing Trump, because the voters aren't interested in talking about him.
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)himself may have done us a huge favor. Just demonstrating kindness, intelligence, virtue ( anthesis of trump) is a subtle way to make people think.."hell, I miss people like this running our country."