Democrats running for Congress lean into science as a campaign message
Only Pritesh Gandhi's eyes were visible above his blue scrubs and white doctor's coat.
"I'm wearing a mask, and you may ask why," the Democratic congressional candidate said in a video he posted to Twitter late last month. Gandhi, who's hoping to unseat a longtime Republican in Texas' 10th District, filmed himself outside the Austin community health clinic where he's a physician and where, he explained, masks are required.
"And because I'm an adult, and I know how to respect the policy that's put in place by a facility," Gandhi said -- a retort to Vice President Mike Pence, who earlier that day had toured the Mayo Clinic maskless.
Democrats and Republicans with medical backgrounds have long used their MDs to convey competency, compassion and a commitment to service when running for Congress. But Democrats, especially, think the coronavirus pandemic has become a strong proof point in their argument that the defense of science can be a winning campaign message — and some party strategists think that's given candidates with scientific backgrounds, including doctors like Gandhi, an advantage.
They're drawing contrasts between their candidacies and the GOP -- namely the President and the down-ballot Republicans who have mostly stood by him.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/elections-2020/democrats-running-for-congress-lean-into-science-as-a-campaign-message/ar-BB13RBFZ?li=BBnb7Kz
