As the field of Democratic candidates has grown, the list of theories about how to beat Trump has grown even larger. Some people seem to want a candidate who can be as rude and mean to Trump as Trump is to just about everyone but Ivanka. Others think it’s time to throw off the cautious progressivism of recent Democratic presidents in favor of a more full-throated and radical progressivism. Still others want a grown-up or new-generation nice guy (or gal). And some think that only a woman or person of color will fit the bill for a new generation of Democrats. …
One way to begin to understand the electability argument is to look back at what happened in 2016. In doing so a few themes emerge. First, given how close the election was, the Democratic nominee should do no harm. Second, they should be prepared to execute a northern strategy, win back some Obama-Trump voters, increase black turnout and make the gender gap work. CONT.
Elaine Kamarck, Brookings Institution