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2019-02-08 Home Front: Politix

2020 Dems see danger in the Mueller probe

[Politico] Behind the scenes, the candidates, campaign aides and consultants are already plotting how to publicly address the scandal that has consumed President Donald Trump.

Democrats vying for the White House want to talk about anything right now but Robert Mueller’s Russia probe. But the 2020 race is inevitably going to keep coming back to 2016 ‐ and what the special counsel uncovers.

Behind the scenes, the candidates, campaign aides and consultants are already plotting how to publicly address the scandal that has consumed President Donald Trump. They know the campaign that gets it right could break free from the cluttered 2020 pack. In the early primary and caucus states, the Democratic hopefuls are already encountering "simmering, seething outrage" about Trump’s possible ties to Russia, said one strategist for a 2020 campaign. The candidate who taps into that anger could ride the wave to the nomination.

Speaking up could have disastrous ramifications, though. Much like Democratic candidates in the 2018 midterm elections, the party’s presidential hopefuls are wary of appearing consumed by ‐ and politicizing ‐ a scandal that grips regular Rachel Maddow viewers but seems confusing and distant from the kitchen tables of many Americans.

"Smart campaigns will war game this very quietly," said Ben LaBolt, a former spokesman from the Obama White House and 2012 reelection campaign. "They’ll have smart plans on the shelf. But it’s not something they’ll talk about. It’s not something that they’ll broadcast."

Democrats working for 2020 candidates describe Mueller’s work as something akin to a virus that will keep forcing their campaigns to take precautions.

"It’s the elephant in the room," said the party strategist working with a White House hopeful, fretting about the uncertainties tied to Mueller, from the rumors about possible new indictments to the advice from inside their own campaigns to just stay quiet about the topic.

"The Russia issue is one that the political and pollster class says, ’Stay away from right now.’ But ultimately the story will take us there and we will have to deal with it," the Democratic strategist added.

Posted by Besoeker 2019-02-08 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11131 views ] Top

#1 That's a fine lookin true bill, er, I mean ham sandwich. Simply no fair putting ideas like that in a guy's head at 2:30 am...

Posted by M. Murcek 2019-02-08 02:29|| 2019-02-08 02:29|| Front Page Top

#2 The Dems know the Mueller probe is phony made-up baloney too?

Posted by JohnQC 2019-02-08 13:17|| 2019-02-08 13:17|| Front Page Top

#3 When the Mueller Probe left its mandate of "Russia Collusion" and started to deliver nothing but process violations it was a Bad Thing™. One characteristic of late-stage decadent republics is that you literally can not lose an election because the opposition will jail you afterwards. Mueller is a bad Omen of things to come.

Posted by magpie 2019-02-08 14:00|| 2019-02-08 14:00|| Front Page Top

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