Story highlights Hillary Clinton has repeatedly called for President Barack Obama's successor to be a Democrat

Embedded in that message is the idea her primary challenger Bernie Sanders is unelectable in the general election

Des Moines, Iowa (CNN) Hillary Clinton has seemingly found the sweet spot in her stump speech in the first few days of 2016, preaching a sense of urgency at all of her events in Iowa and New Hampshire this week while hitting Republicans for their policies and casting herself as the only Democrat who can stop them from winning the White House.

By doing so, Clinton is able to focus almost entirely on a message that will work in the general election, while also pegging Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, her chief Democratic rival, as unelectable.

"I am absolutely determined that we're going to make sure we have a Democrat to succeed President Obama so we don't let the Republicans rip away the progress we have made together," Clinton said in Davenport on Monday.

The refrain has become a staple on the stump and gives Clinton the opportunity to herald President Barack Obama's plan to push executive actions on guns Tuesday.

"We have to be prepared to take them on and to confuse them by telling the truth to the American people about what would happen if that were to occur," Clinton said to applause in Des Moines on Monday night.

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