What Next | Daily News and Analysis Behind the Democrats’ Losing Strategy
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Jul 15, 2025 Ben Mathis-Lilley, a senior writer at Slate and author of 'How Strategist Brain Took Over the Democratic Party', dives into the Democratic Party's flawed reliance on consultants and polling. He critiques the party’s outdated strategies, linking them to a decline in grassroots engagement since the 1968 Chicago convention. Mathis-Lilley discusses the impact of campaign finance on party identity and stresses the importance of authentic connections with voters, urging a shift towards genuine representation and economic concerns.
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Weakening of Democratic Party
- Democratic Party's weakening started with the shift to binding primaries after the 1968 Chicago convention.
- This change reduced local involvement and increased reliance on money and TV ads rather than grassroots efforts.
Strategist Brain Dominates Campaigns
- Modern Democratic campaigns emphasize crafting TV ads based on polling to win.
- This strategy reduces political engagement to repeating what polls dictate for votes.
Clinton's Incremental Strategy Legacy
- Bill Clinton's presidency shaped modern Democratic strategy focusing on moderate, incremental victories.
- This approach is less ambitious compared to historic Democratic leaders like FDR or LBJ.
