Are Data-Driven Campaigns Killing the Democratic Party?

[wildeyed]

I am def guilty of preferring data and facts to narrative. It is so easy to lie with narrative that I avoid that until I feel like I have the truth of numbers and facts fixed in my head. But I guess that is a problem since most voters are more tuned into their feelings.

There’s a Southern proverb often attributed to Sam Rayburn: “There’s no education in the second kick of a mule.” One month into the Trump presidency, and it’s still unclear whether the Democratic Party will learn anything from a fourth kick.

For four straight election cycles, Democrats have ignored research from the fields of cognitive linguistics and psychology that the most effective way to communicate with other humans is by telling emotional stories. Instead, the Democratic Party’s affiliates and allied organizations in Washington have increasingly mandated “data-driven” campaigns instead of ones that are message-driven and data-informed. And over four straight cycles, Democrats have suffered historic losses.

After the 2008 election, Democrats learned all the wrong lessons from President Obama’s victory, ascribing his success to his having better data. He did have better data, and it helped, but I believe he won because he was the better candidate and had a better message, presented through better storytelling.

http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/02/data-driven-campaigns-democrats-need-message-214759

[HassleCat]

1. This is true. We don't need to lie.

There have been many suggestions here on DU that we need to lie, cheat and steal the same way our opponents do. Fight fire with fire, and so on. What we really need to do is connect (1) all that data showing the bad effects of Republican social Darwinism with (2) reminders of our core values that grew out of the New Deal with (3) personal stories from ordinary citizens, people who are your neighbors and family members.

[chimpymustgo]

2. NO Rethug vote stealing, voter suppression, gerrymandering is what's killing the Dem party.

May never be able to come back from the thievery.

[HassleCat]

3. But we can't do that ourselves.

First, it is dishonest. Second, we do not control the system. We will have to find a legitimate way to regain the majority at various levels of government, and reverse the corruption. This will be a difficult task.

[wildeyed]

4. It is both.

We ARE getting killed with voter suppression and gerrymandering, but a candidates personal charisma and narrative ALSO really matter.

[TrekLuver]

5. No matter what you really need someone who is like able....it's a frikkin popularity contest.

[wildeyed]

6. Sadly, yes.

Do we like George Clooney or Ben Affleck better or 2020?

[SoCalDem]

8. "... a candidates personal charisma and narrative ALSO really matter..."----AMEN

Those matter the MOST..

Springsteen, Beyonce, etc are Great for drawing a crowd, but when thousands of people queue up for hours in cold weather to see YOU and hear what YOU have to say...well..that's what wins elections..

Some people have a natural way of conveying information, in a way that ordinary folks can grasp..

You either have "it" ...or you don't..

Being smart & ready (see John Kerry/HillaryClinton) is not enough

[demmiblue]

7. Yes. My state was lost partly due to data models.

This, despite what those involved in the campaign said regarding regarding the reality of the situation (more effective ground game was needed). They were ignored.

The crowds, the signs, etc. ... they do take a pulse of what is going on (these concepts were poo-pooed here or brushed off as 'concern'). The Trump signs sprouted up like turd blossoms all over my area.

Yes, there were other forces (and it was probably more widespread than we think), but this is a state who voted for Obama by almost 17% in 2008. Obama had a good ground game.

We need to fix this in order to win.