50 Days Out
Earlier this month, I came home. After a few years away from the DNC, where I had cut my teeth as a press secretary helping re-elect President Barack Obama, I came back to serve as the Communications Director and to steer Democrats’ message for the final stretch of this election.
Look, campaigns are grueling. You don’t get enough sleep, you eat like garbage, you miss big moments in your family’s lives (not to mention your sport teams — C’mon Arsenal!), but I’m in this because I don’t want to live in an America where fear, distrust, and hate reside in the Oval Office. I don’t want a president who lacks any semblance of transparency or sound judgment.
There are just 50 days left to elect Hillary Clinton AND give her a Congress she can work with AND elect the next generation of leadership to state houses and city councils and school boards across the country. Fifty days is not a lot of time. Below is a memo that we’re sending out today to “interested parties” (that means Democratic leaders in the states, our allies working on behalf of movements for racial equality or women’s rights or fair labor practices, and yes, the press), because I know that as a Democrat, you’re an interested party, too.
Every single move outlined below comes back to at least one of our three key goals for the next 50 days, as does everything we do at DNC HQ.
- We’re going to make history by electing Hillary Clinton as the 45th President of the United States, because she is the most qualified candidate in history and is committed to making life better for every American;
- We’re going to show voters exactly how unfit Donald Trump is to serve, because he is only in it for himself and because he fundamentally does not understand why America is already great;
- We’re going to support Democrats running up and down the ticket, because so much change happens at the state and local level, and because just four years before he ran for president, Barack Obama was a state senator in Illinois.
That’s how we’re measuring our success. Everything we outlined above comes back to those three things. And we need you to help out, too. Make sure you’re registered to vote. Get on Facebook and Twitter to tell your friends why you’re a proud Democrat. Pick up the phone and call voters on behalf of the campaign. “Stronger Together” is more than a campaign slogan — it’s a strategy. Our party is stronger for every Democrat who doesn’t just show up to vote, but who also does what they can to make sure their friends and neighbors do, too.
That’s how we win.
MEMO
To: Interested Parties
From: Brandon Davis, DNC General Election Chief of Staff
Re: 50 Days Out — Together, We Win
With 50 days left in this campaign and early voting beginning in a few days, the Democratic National Committee is sharpening its focus on activating and mobilizing voters to elect Hillary Clinton, Tim Kaine and Democrats across the country. Our core message that we are “stronger together,” and that together we can build an economy that works for everyone, not just those at the top is resonating with voters. Donald Trump, on the other hand, continues to remind voters daily that he is dangerous, divisive, and when it comes to the economy, is concerned about promoting policies that enrich millionaires and billionaires like himself.
KEY INVESTMENTS
- Last week the DNC transferred $2.5 million each to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee to support critical general election activities that will reach voters still evaluating candidates and engage and mobilize our base.
- In partnership with the Hillary Clinton campaign, we have opened field offices in every state in the country, serving as hubs for critical grassroots activities like recruiting volunteers, phone banking, organizing meetings, and canvass operations.
- DNC staff have also deployed from our headquarters in Washington, DC to states that are key to winning races from the White House to the statehouse.
- All of our investments are made in partnership with huge efforts by our state parties to create a coordinated campaign apparatus that will deliver victories in 2016.
- We are also making critical long-term commitments that will strengthen the party’s infrastructure to enact the Democratic Platform on behalf of hard working families in 2016 and beyond. Key programs like our Victory Leadership Councils and “45 for 45” grassroots donor program will anchor the work that delivers well after Election Day.
DIGITAL PLATFORMS
- Today, the Democratic Party re-launched its homepage to provide Democratic activists with a place to take action to elect Hillary Clinton and Democrats up and down the ballot. This new design is engaging and action-oriented, driving visitors to make financial contributions to the work ahead, volunteer, register to vote, confirm that their voter registration status is up-to-date, and speak out about why they are voting for Democrats this fall. Democrats are about action — we roll up our sleeves and ask what we can do. Learn exactly what you can do to have an impact on this election at Democrats.org.
- Today we also released a new video highlighting how Democrats are working hard to mobilize voters around the country to elect Hillary Clinton Tim Kaine, and Democrats up and down the ballot.
- We share the Clinton campaign’s goal of getting 3 million people to register or commit to vote before Election Day. IWillVote.com is a voter education and registration website we’ve developed to help reach that goal, and further empower voters to access the polls. Using IWillVote, voters can check their registration status, get registered to vote if necessary, update their registration information, and get the facts on voting in 50 states and the District of Columbia — all within minutes. IWillVote.com will be continuously updated this fall to make sure voters are ready to cast a ballot on Election Day.
VICTORY LEADERSHIP COUNCILS
- The DNC recently announced the launch of its state-based Victory Leaders Council (VLC) program. So far, State Programs have been opening in key states such as Arizona, Georgia, and Utah with additional states to be announced in the coming days. The goal of the councils is to help elect Hillary Clinton and win down-ballot elections this cycle and beyond.
- Each Victory Leaders Council will include prominent individuals and elected officials, but also depend on grassroots activists who put elbow grease into electing Democrats up and down the ballot. They have already helped expand our ground capacity in each state, helping to deliver votes and volunteers to Hillary Clinton and down-ballot Democrats at every level of the ticket.
- These structures will live on beyond Election Day to help President Hillary Clinton enact her policy agenda, and support Democrats in the 2018 mid-term elections — strengthening our majorities in Blue States and flipping Republican majorities.
VOTER PROTECTION PROGRAM
- The DNC and the Clinton campaign are building the most advanced and robust voter protection programs in history — an effort that includes recruiting thousands of attorney volunteers to protect the most sacred right we share: the right to vote.
- Democrats recently reached a settlement in our lawsuit against Maricopa County, Arizona that will make it easier for residents to vote. Maricopa County miscalculated voter turnout and underestimated the number of vote centers needed to accommodate voters during the March presidential primaries. Maricopa County agreed to a number of suggestions offered by Democrats to better ensure that voters aren’t subjected to unacceptably long lines as a result of unsupported allocation decisions. Additional claims are still outstanding.
