Thread by @AlxThomp

NEW: Warren & her allies—long resistant to discussing process, polls, etc.—are making a surprising closing pitch abt electability: that she’s the best candidate to unite the warring Bernie/Biden factions, making explicit what’s long been the quiet strategy
politico.com/news/2020/01/0…

The strategy is seen as early as 2018 when Warren donated/raised $11 million to Democratic candidates and she began subtly making distinctions with Bernie. Her staff reflects this balance too w/ a unique mix of Bernie/Obama/Hillary folks.

.@JulianCastro made this argument more explicitly than ever this week at his first appearance with Warren so that it wasn’t just private strategy but public messaging. Team Warren often scoffs at what they call the “pollercoaster” but Castro talked polls

.@jaredleopold, a consultant who worked for Inslee’s bid, says that in 2020 candidates need to win the “process primary”

“Cable news has warped voters’ brains and turned everyone into mini-pundits. That means candidates need to win not just on policy but on process.”

trying to win over both sides, however, Warren risks pleasing neither and she’s getting squeezed from the left and the center and her message getting muddled. Biden has maintained his strong support w/ voters of color. Bernie has reconsolidated some of his past support.

One anecdotal ex. Of Bernie consolidating the left. Lauren Rinaldi, a 2016 Bernie supporter I met at a Warren Happy Hour in Philly in July who was helping organize the Warren for philly FB group, has since gone back to Bernie.

.@AJentleson, close w/ Warren’s team, articulated the unity pitch.
“Biden won’t be able to get Bernie voters given his position on M4A and coziness with banks/credit cards. Bernie will have a hard time getting Biden voters because he’s made 0 effort to repair the rifts of 2016”

.@IanSams from Kamala’s campaign on about Warren’s efforts: “She has gone above and beyond to convince establishment types that she is a team player and a Democrat. I don’t think they see her as a left-wing extremist, and they respect her seriousness and policy chops.”

But there are signs the wide appeal strategy has been at least partly successful. Warren allies were sending around these results from the recent. economist/YouGov poll showing that only 11% of voters are disappointed w/ Warren as nominee (16% and 21% for Bernie/Biden)

While being 2nd choice and wide appeal may be important in Iowa b/c of caucus rules, there’s a risk of not appealing enough to the left or the middle. In US politics, no prize for second place.

But the strategy does cut against the punditry that Warren is fighting Bernie for the left wing of the party. She seems to have conceded that she’ll never out-Bernie, Bernie.
But she’s made enemies among the moderate members of the party, just watch Claire McCaskill on MSNBC

trying to appeal to multiple factions is tricky but not unprecedented. Obama appealed to independents and lefties by attacking Hillary from the left and center. Here’s a section from @rtraister Big Girls Don’t Cry on Obama hitting Hillary for supporting an individual mandate

Several Warren staffers and online stans are now tweeting: “I support the unity candidate. I’m voting for Elizabeth Warren”