Thread by @ezraklein

Number of times the candidate used the word “fight” in their announcement speech:

Buttigieg: 0
Bernie: 2
Beto: 2
Booker: 9
Gillibrand: 21
Harris: 23
Warren: 25

Number of times the candidate used the word “hope” in their announcement speech:

Bernie: 0
Harris: 0
Warren: 0
Booker: 0
Beto: 1
Gillibrand: 3
Buttigieg: 9

The “fighter” lane is really crowded in the Democratic primary right now. The “hope” lane is wide open. That’s part of why Buttigieg has caught fire so fast. vox.com/policy-and-pol…

Democratic elites have become disillusioned with "hope" messaging. Part of that is Obama hangover, and part of it is trying to learn Trump's lessons. But hope is really important in the liberal psychology, as the last two Democratic presidents will tell you.

Also, there's a *huge* gender dynamic to who has to prove themselves a fighter — you saw this with Hillary Clinton, too — that I discuss in the piece.