Don't Take The Bait.

But he did.

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New podcast!

Joe Klein and I mull over Tuesday’s debate and agree that Vice President Harris had a good night. We also agree that Ms. Harris will need to do a lot more than have a good debate to win the election. And we agree that the best “communications” strategy for her going forward is town halls; citizens asking her questions about anything and everything, every week or every other week. It worked for Richard Nixon in 1968. It can work for her in 2024.

For one thing, it would allow her to control the calendar. The major “events” of the campaign would be the town halls. The cable news networks would cover every minute. It would be the general election campaign’s only real drama, now that former President Trump has ruled out any more debates.

Needless to say, it will never happen, since modern campaign management is devoted to “data discipline”, “targeted messaging” and risk aversion. The notion of putting a candidate, any candidate, in front of a gathering of citizens for a lengthy Q&A, with live television coverage, is viewed by today’s political “strategists” as campaign malpractice.

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As for Mr. Trump, don’t take the bait. Put (very) politely, it was not his best night. The press coverage was positively giddy, enjoying every minute of Trump’s poor performance. A few suggested that it was the beginning of the end of Trump’s campaign.

Here’s what we know for sure: Donald Trump is never out of it. Ever.

Have a listen:

Episode #39. The Debate.