Thread by @SallyAlbright

I do not have a preferred candidate. There are pros and cons to all of them.

We have a primary to fully vet them all and discuss their strengths and weaknesses to determine which one is best suited to face Trump in the fall.

1/

When I LIKE a tweet, it does not mean I am endorsing or knocking any candidate mentioned. It means "Interesting, thanks for posting." Healthy debate it critical to the process.

2/

When I point out a negative about a candidate, it's not an insult or judgment. It doesn't mean I don't like that candidate. It doesn't mean YOU shouldn't like them. It doesn't mean they won't have my full support in the Fall.

It just means it should be part of the discussion.
3/

Discussing the negatives is not "doing GOP's job for them." That's ridiculous.

GOP knows everything we know and a thousand things we don't know. (Hopefully our side does too.)

And even so, silencing one person isn't going to end the conversation. And it's very rude. Stop it
4/

Vetting candidates and debating issues can also neutralize negative information because by the time GOP tries to use it against us, it's old news

And if a candidate wins despite the negative charge, maybe it's not the most effective argument

Disclaimer: Not an exact science
5/

I'm monitoring the discussion at 10,000 feet, as they say. I'm reading your discussions. Sometimes I jump in. I'm watching their campaigns unfold. I'm considering all the angles, always in the context of the general election in the fall.
6/

It's too early to lock yourselves in. We all have to be flexible. In 2012 they had a different "front runner" about every month. Almost every candidate had a turn.

That could happen to us too. Leading in the polls is not winning. The only poll that matters is Election Day.
7/

Candidates will continue to drop out. Their staffers will go to other campaigns. Their supporters will have to find a new candidate.

Your candidate might endorse a candidate you cannot stand.

The candidate you're trashing today might end up being the best remaining option.

8/

We should be discussing everything, but we shouldn't attacking each other. Once we have a nominee, we have to put it all behind us.

Bernie is not normal.

The Bros are not normal.

Don't be a Bro.

9/

If the goal of politics is to bring people around to our way of thinking, we have to welcome them.

This applies to disaffected Republican as well. We need them. We need to make the decision to cross over easy and attractive.

10/

This election is not about issues. It's about Trump.

The more we talk about issues, the more people will stay home, on both sides.

If we keep reminding potential supporters all the reasons they hate the nominee (Dems) or the Dem Party (GOP), they'll never vote with us.

11/

I worked on a Congressional race in 2008. We won by less than 2000 votes.

GOP primary was so contentious that "normal" Republican refused to endorse the Roy Moore-esque guy who won, and we managed to talk her into endorsing us.

12/

After the endorsement, we undertook a massive effort to win over her supporters. This was of course in addition organizing Democrats with a robust field operation that was already underway

We needed both. In every Red-to-Blue race, we need our base but we need crossovers too
13/

That's basically what Bernie did to us. He convinced his followers to cross over or stay home.

The Trump campaign of course took full advantage of that, just like in my campaign. They targeted the Bros, and it worked.

14/

I'm seeing a lot of "Or Bust" attitudes in our discussions. People are treating supporters of other candidates as mortal enemies. Just like the Bros.

We're lucky to have so many good candidates to choose from. You don't have to decide now.

15/

If you have a favorite, that's great. By all means, make your arguments and plead your case. But it's not necessary to complete reject the others.

Almost all of them except Bernie & Tulsi could put up a good fight against Trump.

It's ok if it's your 2nd or 3rd choice.

16/

I'd like to think Democrats are too smart to let resentment and animosity affect their vote.

But we know that's not true.

We need to make the decision to support the nominee as painless as possible, for potential supporters on both sides of the aisle.

17/

We have a long way to go. We don't know enough yet about any of the candidates.

In December we will be having a completely different conversation (and I hope it is NOT about socialism.)

18/

So advocate for your favorite. Listen and ask questions.

Look at everything with an eye towards how it will play with swing voters and other potential allies.

No purity tests. We need everybody, even people we hate.

19/

We need each other. The insults and tribalism and blocking are destroying the fabric of the strong, passionate #Resistance community we have forged over the last few years.

That makes it harder for us to come together.

And that would be doing GOP's job for them.

20/20

Lots of new faces. If I'm not following you and you'd like me to, please let me know. 😊