http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/09/06/this-is-how-you-beat-donald-trump.htmlENDGAME09.06.1512:01 AM ET
This is How You Beat Donald Trump
Republican strategist Liz Mair lists 10 ways to blow the billionaire out of the water.
For months now, consultants and pundits have been opining about what would be necessary to take The Donald down. We now have a glimpse into what Team Jeb will do—they released an ad this week pointing out Trump’s various flip-flops over the years—but obviously more will be needed.
But perhaps something much different than what Jeb has signaled will be his approach will also be required. There is no existing blueprint for how you kill off a candidate like this, so John Ellis and his staff are probably going to have to do a lot of experimentation to figure out what works, as will any other candidate who wants to help Trump toward what most assume will be his eventual demise.
Here, however, are a few options they might consider—and indeed probably are already considering, at least to some extent.
1. Focus on moving an anti-Trump message to where low-information voters actually get their information.
The reality, whether political campaign operatives like it or not, is that evangelical farmers in Iowa are not reading Politico. Rushed-off-their-feet moms-of-three in Laconia are not watching daytime cable news.
At best, they’re reading their local paper, watching their local evening or morning news, tuning into O’Reilly, and maybe checking a social network for information once or twice a day.
Moreover, despite the fact that they live in the first caucus and primary states, respectively, they—like most people—probably do not live and breathe politics, or even much like it. They’re probably more interested in human-interest stories, the weather, and perhaps sports.
They’re definitely laser-focused on their kids, their churches, their jobs, their communities, their friends. This is, incidentally, probably where they’re hearing about Trump, and where he can most effectively be countered.
Yes, the political media beast needs to be fed and engaging with elite reporters and columnists has its advantages. But just consider that with regard to “educating” the Trump-inclined, low-information voters that are so plentiful out there, there may be more utility in talking to the local ABC affiliate. Or in making sure you have good, well-versed volunteers who hang out at the VFW hall, the tavern, Applebee’s, or wherever that everyone else flocks to, and that they are armed with bad information about Trump.
And that you have volunteers who work at big employers in town, and talk to their colleagues. And that you’re engaging in meaningful outreach to local faith communities, not just speaking at whatever religious conservative conference. And yes, that you’re doing enough radio or pitching enough radio producers, especially with regard to drive-time coverage.
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