Casting the Ideal Challenger to Hillary Clinton

[Armstead]

20. IMO we're a country in which elections have generally been very close and up for grabs

I would say about one third of the population range from reasonable but committed conservatives to right-wing nuts and corporate fascists. Another third range from liberal-leaning moderates to committed progressives to ultra lefties.

The remaining third (sometimes called the swing voters) are generally on the fence, and capable of swinging in either direction, depending on current conditions, specific issues and the persuasive ability of particular candidates and campaigns.

The mistake i believe is that we assume that the "swing middle voters" are inherently conservative, and will automatically reject liberalism. And, to your point about "the money," we have relied too much on money from the wrong sources. I reallllllllllly hate the fact that Democrats like the Clintons (and I must say, President Obama) are basically employees of big corporations like Comcast and investment bankers like Goldman Sachs.

Money is a means to an end, and the end is getting enough votes to get people into office.

IMO a more broadly based and sincere progressive/liberal Democratic Party (and those who support basic liberalism) could mount winning campaigns and candidates if we stop enabling and supporting the wing who either is in the tank for Big Money or who are "pragmatic" and believe we can't be seen as, God forbid, even slightly liberal.