"David Plouffe advising White House on 2010 midterm elections"

David Plouffe advising White House on 2010 midterm elections
By Chris Cillizza
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, February 8, 2010

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Though Plouffe insisted that each campaign will be unique, it is clear he feels strongly that Democrats have done a poor job in drawing contrasts with Republicans, and in making sure that voters know what a GOP majority in the House or Senate would mean for the direction of the country.

"Republicans right now are just sitting back and slinging arrows," Plouffe said. "We need to infiltrate their camp and shine some light over their side of the fence."

How does Plouffe frame the argument to voters? He says that Democrats have spent the past two years trying to fix problems while Republicans are asking voters for the chance to wheel a "Trojan horse" into Washington -- out of which will spill bankers and health insurance executives.

Of course, with Democrats in charge of every lever of power in official Washington, the burden of proof falls far more heavily on Obama and his party than on the GOP. And, with most Americans yet to feel a significant uptick in the economy, the attempt to reform health care bogged down and national security rising as an issue, even the rosiest-eyed Democrats acknowledge that the November elections are likely to be tough for their party.

Plouffe, aware of the challenges for Democrats, said that if people know both the "positive" Democratic story and the "comparative" message against Republicans, the predictions of political Armageddon will be far short of the reality this fall.

"The wisest thing to do is prepare for a very tough election," Plouffe advised members of his party. "But in this kind of turbulent electoral environment, I don't think any of us should presume an electoral outcome."

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/07/AR2010020702402.html