Here's something the DNC should be doing--put together an oppo-research operation on every likely Democratic nomination based entirely on right-wing sources. The nominee needs to be prepared to be painted as a hard-core leftists no matter how moderate they are.
Standard responses need to be drafted, vetted, polled and focus-grouped and the nominee must be trained to repeat them, word-for-word ad infinitum, until the media is bored to tears. No variation can be permitted. That just creates openings for the media to report a flip-flop.
I used to do this sort of thing for my bosses when they were preparing for a press conference or congressional hearing. It was called a "murder board." Every negative thing we could think of was thrown at our boss and his answers were carefully critiqued and rehearsed.
It was very, very unpleasant for my boss, but absolutely essential. Those who avoided it or gave answers that strayed even slightly from those that had been prepared regretted it later.
