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Delivered-To: john.podesta@gmail.com Received: by 10.25.88.12 with SMTP id m12csp928377lfb; Thu, 4 Feb 2016 21:10:04 -0800 (PST) X-Received: by 10.60.233.43 with SMTP id tt11mr10897841oec.36.1454649004427; Thu, 04 Feb 2016 21:10:04 -0800 (PST) Return-Path: <tomperez1@verizon.net> Received: from vms173015.mailsrvcs.net (vms173015pub.verizon.net. [206.46.173.15]) by mx.google.com with ESMTPS id g69si6513482oic.65.2016.02.04.21.10.04 for <john.podesta@gmail.com> (version=TLS1 cipher=AES128-SHA bits=128/128); Thu, 04 Feb 2016 21:10:04 -0800 (PST) Received-SPF: pass (google.com: domain of tomperez1@verizon.net designates 206.46.173.15 as permitted sender) client-ip=206.46.173.15; Authentication-Results: mx.google.com; spf=pass (google.com: domain of tomperez1@verizon.net designates 206.46.173.15 as permitted sender) smtp.mailfrom=tomperez1@verizon.net Received: from tom-perezs-imac.fios-router.home ([71.163.240.188]) by vms173015.mailsrvcs.net (Oracle Communications Messaging Server 7.0.5.32.0 64bit (built Jul 16 2014)) with ESMTPA id <0O22002L16CRPM20@vms173015.mailsrvcs.net> for john.podesta@gmail.com; Thu, 04 Feb 2016 23:10:03 -0600 (CST) X-CMAE-Score: 0 X-CMAE-Analysis: v=2.1 cv=WcjxEBVX c=1 sm=1 tr=0 a=QQA/6GM5q3yz2/8owrRY8g==:117 a=kj9zAlcOel0A:10 a=jFJIQSaiL_oA:10 a=TB74t701f9m9WqSyqx0A:9 a=NSBQNl5I6nN1Hv_E:21 a=7b0_ZkLEtX8qFRd1:21 a=CjuIK1q_8ugA:10 From: Tom Perez <tomperez1@verizon.net> Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-transfer-encoding: quoted-printable Subject: Observations from the road Date: Fri, 05 Feb 2016 00:10:02 -0500 Message-id: <F71CF8D4-003E-4599-9328-B90EBD5E49A6@verizon.net> To: John Podesta <john.podesta@gmail.com>, Maya Harris <maya@mayalharris.com> MIME-version: 1.0 (Apple Message framework v1085) X-Mailer: Apple Mail (2.1085) John and Maya Nice job two nights in a row by HRC. Congrats on Iowa as well. A win = is a win. They said high turnout would hurt us and we won nonetheless. = =20 I was in NH on Sunday and Nevada on Monday and Tuesday for HRC and = thought I would give you some observations from the field. =20 1. I was super impressed with the field staff that I met in both = places. Really impressive group everywhere. =20 2. I dont think I can add more on New Hampshire bc you are there and = probably dont need someone else from the peanut gallery. I think people = will be surprised at how she is able to close the gap. I like the = "vote with your head and your heart" line, and I like the comeback on = the establishment stuff. I also liked how she let her guard down a bit = last night in the town hall format. She humanized herself. =20 3. I wish she would talk about the issues she cares about through the = prism of more human stories. Logos, ethos, pathos. She has met so = many people with so many gut wrenching stories of grit and = determination, struggle followed by success. I wish there were more = pathos, or more real stories behind her really sound policy proposals. = Whenever I talk about ACA, I talk about through the prism of real people = for whom the ACA saved their lives. The stories are incredible. In = my HRC advocacy, I now say how these people dont have the time to wait = for Senator Sanders to complete his quest for the perfect health care = system, or the perfect immigration reform bill; it gets alot of good = nods, especially when I talk about Kennedy McCain immigration and how = Bernie opposed this, and immigrants are still suffering the consequences = of inaction.=20 4. I spent two days in Nevada and I am a huge huge fan of Emmy, the = state director. She is whip smart, passionate, organized, and knows = Nevada inside and out. I have been with her twice now. She is a = huge asset, as is Michelle, one of her top aides. Jorge is a top = flight comms guy who knows Nevada well from Harry Reid days. Best field = organizer I have met so far is a young man named Henry who is about an = hour from Las Vegas. I spoke in this remote town at 10 am on Tuesday = to HRC volunteers, and he had 50 people there-- incredibly diverse! = Great team. =20 5. I think Nevada is the firewall on a number of levels, and the most = important thing I want to communicate in this email is my strong belief = that HRC should travel to Nevada asap after New Hampshire. I think she = should be in Nevada no later than Thursday or Friday of next week. =20 6. Nevada is an opportunity to fight back on so many levels. First, = the current storyline is that she does not connect well with young = voters. Given that Nevada is far more demographically representative = of America, I am confident that HRC can do well with all African = Americans, Latinos, and Asian Americans (dont forget the sizeable = population of Asian Americans in Nevada, including Filipinos.). Emmy = and the team have a good plan to attract all minority voters. When we = do well there, then the narrative changes from Bernie kicks ass among = young voters to Bernie does well only among young white liberals-- that = is a different story and a perfect lead in to South Carolina, where once = again, we can work to attract young voters of color. So I think = Nevada is a real opportunity , and I would strongly urge HRC to get out = there within a couple days of NH. =20 7. Nevada has a greater unity density than New Hampshire or Iowa, and = this also presents an opportunity. I spent alot of time with union = folks in Nevada. Of those who have endorsed, I think there are = varying levels of enthusiasm. I spent alot of time giving passionate = pep talk about how Nevada is labor's biggest and best opportunity thus = far to send a strong message to the country that organized labor remains = strong and relevant. They could use additional stroking. Teachers = are fine. Trades have some great folks (Todd Koch for instance) and = some seemingly more tepid folks. President Clinton I am told is = coming out there very soon and I hope he can speak with labor and close = the deal. =20 8. I went and met with Jim Murren at MGM. A great guy as you know. = The caucus system is really tough on shift workers, and he is a huge = ally. We can reach out to him often enough to say thanks. I am = glad I saw him. =20 9. The major Latino publication in Las Vegas will be endorsing next = week. Jorge has major street cred with them. We had a good meeting. = They adore HRC and will endorse with enthusiasm. =20 10. The caucus system out there is so screwy, and the challenges for = shift workers sufficiently significant, that I do worry about turnout. = This is why I hope HRC can get there asap. =20 Anyway, wanted to give you my thoughts. Let me know how I can be of = further assistance. I believe I am heading to Milwaukee next Thursday = to help with debate spin. =20 Tom Perez=20