DNC chair: we 'always knew that this election was going to be close'

[DonViejo]

Last edited Mon Oct 22, 2018, 11:05 AM - Edit history (1)

Source: CNN


By Devan Cole, CNN

Updated 8:46 AM ET, Mon October 22, 2018

Washington (CNN) - Democratic National Committee chairman Tom Perez said Monday that the party "always knew that this election was going to be close," just two weeks before voters head to the polls to decide whether or not Democrats will pick up congressional seats and state offices.

"I don't use the term blue wave," he told CNN's John Berman on "New Day." "I always talk about the need for the blocking and tackling. I always talk about the need for organizing."

Democrats are hoping to pick up enough seats in November to gain control of the House of Representatives, and Perez said that he still has "a lot of confidence in the House," but that he knows "the Senate is a tougher map."

He also said that Latino voters would be an important voting bloc for the party and that President Donald Trump's past comments about Hispanics would give Democrats an advantage during next month's elections.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/22/politics/tom-perez-new-day-cnntv/index.html

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Link to tweet

[hlthe2b]

1. Does he think that will motivate Dems?

I agree it is important not to get overly confident and that we have to get every single voter out there, but this seems too far in the other direction. He should be talking about voter suppression and the need for overwhelming numbers to counter that.

[PatSeg]

2. I agree

He is not terribly inspiring or motivating. It can't be that hard to state the obvious.

[Ligyron]

3. Exactly!

Voter suppression, Repugs taking away Health care, gunning for SS & Medicare.


Every Dem candidate and spokesperson! 24/7 til election is over

[bucolic_frolic]

4. understate, overdeliver

wise when dealing with the often-hostile media

[George II]

5. For months I've seen people here say "the Democrats are too over confident"

But since Perez is saying the election could be close, people are upset with that.

Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

But him saying it's going to be a close election will get Democrats even more motivated and get out to vote in bigger numbers.

[hlthe2b]

6. Not what I said nor the others on this thread--AT ALL

[George II]

7. ".....but this seems too far in the other direction"

[hlthe2b]

9. It provided no motivation to get out there and vote. No immediacy nor explanation why EVERYONE's

vote is needed. That is just WRONG> It merely sets up the "close" horse race for the media without providing the needed kick in the pants to those who might be sitting on the fence and not ready to recognize why they need to come out in massive numbers.

Case in point:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100211306016

[apnu]

8. Let's not forget folks, this election isn't supposed to be close

Thanks to 2010 sweep of Governor mansions, the House his heavily gerrymandered to favor the Republican Party. As for the Senate, this is the worst map in modern history for the Democratic Party. We have twice as many seats to defend, and few of them are liberal strongholds.


2018 should be a walk in the park for the Republicans, on paper. But its not. America loathes their policies and now they've got a good look at Trump, he is loathed also.

The fact that the Democrats are competitive at all, with all these obstacles, is nothing short of a miracle. There is momentum for Democrats right now, but we have to follow through and get people to the polls.

Go vote, encourage you personal circle to vote. If someone signals apathy, ask them why and get them motivated. Go vote with them, make it fun, have a drink or some food afterward, whatever it takes. Red state, blue state -- doesn't matter! Get people out to the polls!

[hlthe2b]

10. And ALL of the points you made are those that DNC chairman SHOULD be making to motivate

massive numbers to VOTE.

It is sad that some of our key spokespeople don't understand how to MOTIVATE--how to get these issues across. IT is THEY who likewise need a "kick in the pants".

[apnu]

11. This.

[LBM20]

17. So what would you suggest that he say to "motivate" people to go vote?

He has said this is the most important vote of our lifetime. He has said that when they go low, we go vote. He is trying to make sure people aren't being complacent. Plus we didn't hear the whole thing.

[hlthe2b]

18. I have repeatedly stated on this thread in multiple posts.

as have others... Please read the thread, posts # 1, 3, 6, 8, 9, 13, 14.

[Tiggeroshii]

16. Spot on

Reminder of Virginia almost a year ago and the margin of 1 vote (and later straw draw) that decided the control of the state legislature.

[awesomerwb1]

12. Why give this so much critical attention?

Not a huge fan of Perez here, but I'm not worried at all about his not amazing communication skills. The amount of voters watching that specific show has got to be minimal. It will have zero impact besides the little attention if gets on left of center leaning sites.

Perez could deliver the equivalent of a MLK, Obama, or JFK top shelf speech and it wouldn't matter either.

Write postcards, make calls, get friends to commit to going to vote with you. We don't have time to lose.

[tinrobot]

13. In Virginia, we won the popular vote decisively, yet lost the assembly by one seat

Gerrymandering gives the GOP a 5 point advantage, minimum.

Even if we win by 10 points, it will be close in some areas.

Perez is 100% right. VOTE!

[hlthe2b]

14. Of course we need everyone to vote... That isn't at all at issue here. But, each of us have to try

to motivate those in our lives we encounter and who might NOT vote. Simply stating the races are "tightening" is hardly sufficient to motivate them. Whereas what you just posted, or the fact that we see voter disenfranchisement across the country, or the consequences of the election over all others for all age groups and so many other issues.... Explaining THE WHY of the importance is how to get people to vote.

No one gives a damn about a "close horse race" unless they understand how very much they have "skin in the game"--how this affects THEM.

The message DOES matter.

[Gothmog]

15. Do not rely on a blue wave or polls-GOTV