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U.S. Senate primary must be energizing - Bleeding Heartland
Tuesday, Mar 22 2022
Glenn Hurst
Democrats have been failing to win at the top of the ballot in Iowa for far too many elections. We failed to carry the state for the Democratic presidential candidate in the last two contests. We failed to win a U.S. Senate seat in the last four elections. We failed to win the governor’s seat against vulnerable Republicans.
To break this cycle, we must change the type of candidates we are running and how they run.
Our Democratic candidates in those races had much in common. Some were ordained by Washington, DC power-brokers before they appealed to Iowans. They embraced identity over policy in their messaging strategy. They appealed to moderate Republicans and independents, rather than to the Democratic base and disillusioned progressives.
This has been the formula for loss. Repeating it again would be foolish.
If we want to win at the top of the ticket and take back the House or Senate, we must motivate our base first. It is a base that responds to substance, not stories. It is motivated by plans of action and bold contrast to the current representative. Remember, the last Democrat elected at the top of the ballot was exceptional at running for his office and he did so in a way that no Democrat has done since. It was U.S. Senator Tom Harkin.
more...https://www.bleedingheartland.com/2022/03/22/u-s-senate-primary-must-be-energizing/
Glenn Hurst
Democrats have been failing to win at the top of the ballot in Iowa for far too many elections. We failed to carry the state for the Democratic presidential candidate in the last two contests. We failed to win a U.S. Senate seat in the last four elections. We failed to win the governor’s seat against vulnerable Republicans.
To break this cycle, we must change the type of candidates we are running and how they run.
Our Democratic candidates in those races had much in common. Some were ordained by Washington, DC power-brokers before they appealed to Iowans. They embraced identity over policy in their messaging strategy. They appealed to moderate Republicans and independents, rather than to the Democratic base and disillusioned progressives.
This has been the formula for loss. Repeating it again would be foolish.
If we want to win at the top of the ticket and take back the House or Senate, we must motivate our base first. It is a base that responds to substance, not stories. It is motivated by plans of action and bold contrast to the current representative. Remember, the last Democrat elected at the top of the ballot was exceptional at running for his office and he did so in a way that no Democrat has done since. It was U.S. Senator Tom Harkin.
more...https://www.bleedingheartland.com/2022/03/22/u-s-senate-primary-must-be-energizing/