Launch Strategy Thoughts Now that we have run our first national poll in the post-clection environment, {think that ‘we have to define a few strategic principles, propose a basic messege, and a launch srategy. The current situation is pretty clear: We have been boosted by our win in NY, the national win of the Democrats and cur hard-working image in the Senate to the umber one spot for the Democratic nomination. for President. HRC is both sean as the leader of the party and the most admired woman. We have incredible image strengths - we have the highest levels of early enthusiasm for any Democratic candidate in modem history ~ people don’t just Jike Hillary Clinton, they love her; they are enthusiastic about her, and that enthusiasm is growing, not shrinking. We are for the first time the first or second choice of a majority of the Democrats ~ the votes of Edwards, Gore and others collapse to Hillary Clinton, not to Barak Obama. People aitribute to the Senator the essence of leadership — strong, smart and experienced. “These qualities have proved elusive forthe last two Democratic nominees. Frustrated by George Bush who appeared to connect with people even though his knowledge was limited, they tried everything to be as “likeable” as George Bush, changing suits, vocabularies, show off their sports. This tumed out to be a fool's errand because ll it did was tip the balance to Bush by emphasizing they were trying to play playing on his field. But Bush matched his personality with ideological clarity. Here is someone who said he was going to lower taxes, enact prescription drugs, change the culture of ‘Washington, and povern with “compassionate conservatism.” You knew where he stood. Even in the second campaign you knew what Bush was about —he was going to fight the terrorists in Iraq nonstop. “What on earth were Gore and Kerry going to do if they got elected? Few could figure that ‘out. They were too busy trying to explain the past rather than give the voters a clear vision of the furure. Gore became obsessed with Monica Lewinsky and Kerry with Viemam. Kery became a eles voice of etic not ot eadership or oeatvit Hillary oceupies a completely different ground thad these past nominees. People see in Hillary Clinton someone who works hard to get results, someone who is tough, enough to make decisions, someone who is smart enough and experienced enough to understand the complexities of the modern world and yet passionate enough to fight for causes she believes in. She also heads a movement of women looking to achieve the trae promise of America ~ that a qualified woman could be president of this, country. |And we have to be careful not to fall into the trap of reliving the past — this election can’t be about the old Clinton years, but about the future. Bush did mot run on the record of his father, though he benefitted from the name and association, New Times, New Ideas, a New Clinton, ‘There are many theories about why Republicans hate Hillary Clinton so much, Dick Morris even announced he will leays the country if you win. Essentially, what Republicans fear is not personal — it’s all business. They believe that President Hillary Clinton would raise taxes, enlarge government, abandon the military in Iraq, allow gay ‘marriage and block their effo-ts to restrict abortions. When they say “divisive” or “phony” what they really mean is that HRC says she is more moderate, but al] of that is a cover for her secret plan to tam their world upside down. They are worried that unlike the weaker candidates she could actually change things. Finally, in anslyzing the current situation, regardless of the sex of the candidates, most voters in essence see the presidents as the “father” of the country. They do not want someone who would be the first mama, especially in this kind of world. But there is a ‘yearning for a kind of tough single parent ~ someone who can combine the toughness ‘they are used to with the negotiating edepiness they believe « woman would bring to the office. They are open to the first father being a woman, And the best role model proves the ease, Margaret Thatcher was the longest serving Prime Minister in British history, serving far longer than Winston Churchill. She represents the most successful elected woman leader in this century ~ and the adjectives that were used about her (Iron Lady) were not of good humor or warmth, they were of smart, tough leadership. As we move forward itis important to understand who we are and who we are not. We are more Thatcher than anyone else ~ top of the university, @ high achiever throughout life, a lawyer who could absorb and analyze problems, Her ‘mantra was opportunity, renewal, strength and choice. She was brought to power by a disastrous “socialist” government while we are coming in after a disastrous conservative government, It important in this process not to lose our strengths that really heve ‘positioned us fo win in any attempt to shift the personal tone of the campaign. II, Overcoming obstacles Perhaps the most important part of any campaign is understanding and overcoming the obstacles in our way. L. The national press is relatively hostile and only grudgingly willing to see any of the Senator’s great strengths. They want to be king makers and Hillary already the king, so they are typically looking to find thet someone “new” ‘who can be their own... They have dore this with Dean last time, with first ‘Wamer and now Obama this time. They focus on every Hillery Clinton weakness while ignore the weaknesses of opponents in a vast media festivalthat has now become an ingreined part of the process, The NY press in contrast is becoming kind of cheerleaders, especially the Post and News. Suggested Tactics: Use local media in key states as key goal, national wire services and prime time direct TV national and local interviews as primary means of communication, Newsweek is gone, Time may be salvageable. NY and DC press a day to day reality but their influence is waning unless they bave a scoop. Blog effort is definitely worthwhile. {press dept may have other views on this). (Obama represents a serious challenge because at Ieast for the moment he represents something big — an inspirational movement. But the more you snalyze what he says, the more you wonder what is behind the hype. No big original ideas. No incredible accomplishments for others, only for himself. No ‘one could fill the expectations that have been built up for him, while the daily tamping down of us make it hard for Hillary Clinton not to beat the ‘expectations set for her. And all politics is an expectations game. ‘Tactics: Research his flaws, hold our powder, see if he fades or does not ran. Attacking him direetly would backfire. His weakness is that if voters think about him five minutes they get that he was just a state senator and that he would be trounced by the big, Republicans. We have to transfer electability burden to him, We have to attract the base of the party — the most liberal, activist, difficult group of voters in America. Or not. We really need only neutralize therm Decause time and time again they have not proven to be the real base of the party. The real base is of working class and middie class Americans who feel left out of the new waves of prosperity they see all around them. It is the seniors who want Social Security and Medicare protected. And young people ‘who want to sce Jendership fulfill their optimism by dealing with longec term. issues. And itis minorities who egain want a charmpion in the white house. The brie and cheese set drives fundraising and elite press but docs not drive the vote, Kerry bee: Dean. Gore easily defeated Bradley. ‘Tactics: Blog outreach, iraq criticism, are critical to tamping down their possible anger, as we did in NY. Unified by anti-Bush positions. Tending to be standing down somewhat as you become bigger. Convince them you would never have started the war and would be best to finish it. Remember the main event for us iS, ‘waitress moms, so also be careful to balance time and effort here with time and effort for core lower middle class voters who, like Upstate NYers, want a champion.