Can Democrats Turn Their 2022 Around?

Messaging

Democrats are grappling with the challenge of crafting messages that resonate with both their base and swing voters. Anat Shenker-Osorio emphasizes the importance of simplifying messages, suggesting that Democrats often focus too much on policy details rather than creating compelling narratives. She argues that Democrats should "sell the brownie and not the recipe," meaning they should focus on the benefits rather than the complexities of policies 1. Sean McElwee adds that Democrats need to be responsive to current events and use strong messaging to address issues like inflation and corporate greed 2.

   

Inflation Strategy

Inflation is a significant concern for Democrats, and the strategy of blaming corporate greed is debated. Ezra Klein notes that while some Democratic economists disagree with this approach, the political appeal is strong 3. Shenker-Osorio supports framing corporations as the enemy, arguing that it provides a clear origin story for voters to understand inflation 3. She suggests that Democrats should highlight how corporations are profiting at the expense of the public, making it a morality tale that resonates with voters.