Democrats are predicting that President-elect Trump will be such a disaster out of the gate that they will win back the middle of America in just two years.
Top leaders are already talking about nationalizing the midterm elections, which typically go against the new incumbent president.
“We need to have a national campaign, not only in the presidential elections but in the congressional elections as well. We will have an opportunity to do that in two years. We’ll have wind at our backs,” Rep. Adam Schiff said.
“This will be really the best opportunity to retool our focus and make sure that we are competing in all 50 states,” the eight-term California Democrat added during a recent media breakfast sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor.
As more Democrats blame Hillary Clinton’s campaign for being poorly managed and not inclusive enough, Schiff said it’s key to reach Democrats-turned-Republicans.
“I think that great mass in the middle of the country really ought to be most responsive to the message of the Democratic Party. Those ought to be our natural voters. Now they haven’t been for some time. We’re going to have to win their confidence back. We’re going to have to speak to the issues that they care about,” he said.
“I think that too many people in the middle of the country looked at our campaign message and said, ‘OK, they’re appealing here, they’re appealing there, but they’re not really talking to me,” he admitted.
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected]