Dems eyeing 2018 say its time to start talking Russia
Dems eyeing 2018 say its time to start talking Russia
By Alex Roarty
October 30, 2017 6:04 PM
WASHINGTON
Democrats say they dont want to fixate on Russia during next years elections.
Robert Muellers investigation might not give them a choice.
Mondays bombshell revelations highlighted by the indictment of Donald Trumps former campaign chairman Paul Manafort offer a vivid example of the political bind gripping Democrats, who want to discuss jobs and health care but instead must react to new developments in Special Counsel Muellers probe into allegations of collusion between the Republicans campaign and Russia.
The expectation of fresh breaks in the case, which could last well into 2018, has convinced some leading party operatives that candidates need to simply embrace the Russia story.
Were fooling ourselves if we think we have a choice, said Adam Jentleson, senior strategic adviser to Center for American Progress Action Fund, a liberal-leaning group.
Jentleson said news of the impending indictment dominated media coverage over the weekend, while the indictments themselves drowned out coverage of other stories Monday. The same dynamic next year threatens to drown out Democrats who refuse to talk about anything else.
It will be on the evening news all the time, said Jentleson, a former top aide to former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. So even if its not the issue you want hand pick you want to run on in 2018, you need to find a way to make it work for you.
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