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Why Crafting a Message for Democrats Is So Hard

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The following post for members is by David T.S. Jonas, who most recently served as policy director for Tom Perriello’s (D-VA) campaign for Governor.

Imagine for a moment that you are hired to come up with the Democrats’ overarching slogan for the 2018 Congressional races. You have just a few words to sum up the message for the entire party, one that will both generate enthusiasm among the base and also try to win back swing voters that were lost in 2016. You walk into a room to find Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, Tom Perez, and a bevy of staffers who are ready to finally come together on a single message.

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About Political Wire

Taegan Goddard is the founder of Political Wire, one of the earliest and most influential political web sites. He also runs Political Job Hunt, Electoral Vote Map and the Political Dictionary.

Goddard spent more than a decade as managing director and chief operating officer of a prominent investment firm in New York City. Previously, he was a policy adviser to a U.S. Senator and Governor.

Goddard is also co-author of You Won - Now What? (Scribner, 1998), a political management book hailed by prominent journalists and politicians from both parties. In addition, Goddard's essays on politics and public policy have appeared in dozens of newspapers across the country.

Goddard earned degrees from Vassar College and Harvard University. He lives in New York with his wife and three sons.

Goddard is the owner of Goddard Media LLC.

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