RE: DRAFT Strategy Memo for Fourth Debate

I agree with all comments from Jim and Mandy and here are others. Page 1 - I think the “beginning of the end” of this primary contest is too overblown. We are still weeks away from the first votes being cast and Sanders will have enough money to hang around for quite some time, even if it is just to keep prodding her to move left. I think this is not the frame of mind we need her in. We need her much more in the frame of mind reflected in Jim’s first point below. I also think Sanders has much less of a “problematic” record on minorities and I think ratcheting up things with her that just aren’t that strong could lead her to overswing during the debate. Page 3 – I am less convinced about attacks for support of the crime bill – Sanders voted for it and one rule I believe in is don’t deliver an attack that can bite you in the ass. I also don’t think her close relationship with Rahm will be an issue. I think you’re burying the lead regarding the centrality of domestic issues. I believe this debate is a major opportunity for her to drive her economic message and drive a strong contrast with Sanders on this, including but not limited to creating jobs of the future, a tough plan for reining in Wall St/shadow banking (including contrast on his derivatives vote.) I would put the focus on the economy as the central issue on page 1 of this message. We cannot let this part of her message be secondary to anything else. I would also make this point on page 4 in the strategic approach section. I believe when voters start caucusing/voting their economic lives is going to be the number one driver of their vote. She also has to be the candidate of the future making sure she gets to issues like education/ college / Page 6 – Sorry but it just is not going to be credible that HRC is THE candidate who believes the rich are paying too little -- Sanders has built his whole campaign on taking on the billionaires and she cannot sell what you’re suggesting. Hitting him on taxing the middle class is winning territory, not trying to convince anyone that she’s tougher than he is when it comes to raising taxes on the wealthy. Page 7 – Guns – I think we have a two part attack --- that may be better than the Charleston loophole (which I’m not sure anyone understands when they hear that shorthand). Sanders this weekend claimed he only voted against Brady Bill “one time” – Not true. He voted against it five times. Every time the bill was changed, he voted against it. WE should him for the 5 times and not being straight with the voters….. Would it be crazy to challenge him to admit finally twenty years later this was a terrible mistake? Also on Obama – Sanders “weak” and “speculating” about a primary opponent is not the worst of what Sanders said. We are currently testing his actual language, which I will send after this so you have it. At a time when Republicans were obstructing and attacking the president every day, Sanders said “millions of Americans were disappointed” in him because he went so far to the right and he openly encouraged a primary against Obama saying it would be “a good idea” I think we really want/need in this blood stream and that Democratic primary voters, including younger ones, will really be turned off by this. It is also another example of Sanders not being straight with people about what he said at the time. Here’s the link: http://hotair.com/archives/2011/07/24/bernie-sanders-lets-primary-obama/ I defer to you all – but I think turning him into a bit of a bullshitter during the debate will drive him crazy. Agree with Margolis points. One more note on race. Sanders has gotten considerably better both in rhetoric (Sandra Bland would be alive if she were white) and in substance. I'm not sure HRC is aware of this. She could use a briefing on what he is saying. She should also remember to use the mothers she met with and other personal proof of her understanding of these issues. Mandy Grunwald Grunwald Communications 202 973-9400 On Jan 4, 2016, at 6:30 PM, Margolis, Jim <Jim.Margolis@gmmb.com<mailto:Jim.Margolis@gmmb.com>> wrote: This looks great. All the key strategic points seem right and my obsession with demeanor and focus on core message are addressed. A couple of notes: 1. While this debate is taking place in SC and will heavily focus on race, I think she needs to keep in mind that a lot of IA and NH voters will be looking at this debate as the last opportunity to kick the tires before the caucus/primary. So while it’s important for HRC to be fully engaged in the conversation there, she needs to look for opportunities to make our closing argument with IA and NH voters. The issues facing families in SC are the same ones facing families across the country. 2. Given the amount of coverage the Trump attack on WJC is getting, it’s possible Holt will look for a way to bring this into the debate. I don’t think we should address this in the memo, but we should discuss it in prep. 3. Given that Bernie has announced he intends to release his tax plan, it is likely the issue will have more prominence in debate 4. You reference taxes in the memo, but there will be new territory to cover. Here is a draft that Jake, Karen and I prepared for a Strategy Memo for the Jan 17 debate. We’d like to send this to HRC on Monday, please get us comments by the end of the day Sunday. Thanks, Ron This email is intended only for the named addressee. It may contain information that is confidential/private, legally privileged, or copyright-protected, and you should handle it accordingly. 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