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“How you holdin’ up?”

To staffers lurching numbly through the dying days of an ending campaign, this question is hated above all others. The intention is usually well-meant. A gently pitying call from friends or family wanting to know if you’re OK, seeking to express support. But it’s just an unwelcome reminder that you need support in the first place, another unmistakable indication that you’re dedicating every ounce of energy to an un-winning effort.

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Losing. It really does suck the gigantic.

The only thing worse than losing is being unable to acknowledge that you’re losing because the process of losing is as yet incomplete. And so, until the campaign is officially and finally finished, you have to kinda sorta deny the losing. Which only serves to make you seem, and feel, like an even bigger loser.

There’s nothing to do but breathe deeply and game-face your way through it. “Thanks for calling. Never better, actually. Some good movement the last few nights. It’s starting to turn.” Utter bullsense, of course. You’re going down like a wrong-footed roofer. You know it. They know it. And because your failure just happens to be on national display, the whole country knows it.