Within weeks, perhaps days, of next month's elections, the first major Democratic presidential hopefuls will announce their intentions. But a debate over the tone of the 2020 campaign has already begun.

Democrats seem divided whether to follow Michelle Obama's advice that "when they go low, go high," Michael Avenatti's admonition to "hit back," or Eric Holder's suggestion to "kick them."

The divisions on tactics reflect what is likely to be the most difficult aspect of the forthcoming campaign for the Democrats: how to cope with the way President Donald Trump has been able to command media attention and counter his propensity for outrageously false statements that a significant portion of the electorate seemingly believes.

If one needed any proof of the difficulty, Sen. Elizabeth Warren provided it when her attempt to deal with questions Trump pointedly raised about her self-identification as part Native American stirred a days-long furor that left her under attack from all sides, struggling to explain what she was trying to do.

Her goal seemed reasonable enough: to provide the facts before her formal candidacy in hopes of ending the discussion. Unfortunately for her, the timing was poor, coming three weeks before the midterm elections, and her explanations imprecise.

The ensuing flap also showed that the ability to compete stylistically, without becoming an unpleasant replica of Trump, may be more important in the long run than whether the Democrats nominate a veteran officeholder, an attractive neophyte or someone outside the traditional political realm.

Steve Schmidt, the former Republican strategist turned outspoken Trump critic, said Democrats need to understand there is a difference between toughness, which they surely need, and meanness.

"They need a tough-as-nails candidate who will stand for what's right, and what's good and what's decent," he said on MSNBC's Dateline White House. "They don't need somebody to add to the cruelty and the vileness."

"I don't think you're going to beat Donald Trump by trying to be Donald Trump," said one prospective candidate, former San Antonio mayor and housing secretary Julian Castro on MSNBC's Morning Joe.

Ironically, the Democrats' defeated 2016 nominee, Hillary Clinton, did stand up to Trump, displaying the toughness the party's next nominee will need. But the last thing many Democrats want or expect is a third run by Clinton, who was widely disliked, even by some who supported her, and mishandled key aspects of her campaign, starting with her infamous private email server.

History suggests the best kind of candidate for the Democrats would be a relatively new face promising a new generation of leadership, someone akin to the former presidents who ended GOP reigns: John F. Kennedy, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.

If past patterns persist, the next president will also be someone significantly different from Trump, though that might cover most leading prospects. Something to keep in mind when evaluating the field: No one first elected president since William McKinley had held elective office more than 14 years.

It's not easy to find someone who readily checks all the boxes. Former Vice President Joe Biden seems tough enough, and could compete with Trump for the white, blue-collar voters whose support was crucial in electing the president.

But Biden has held elective office an astounding 44 years, failed badly in two previous presidential bids, will be nearly 78 by the 2020 election, and may encounter female opposition for mishandling Anita Hill's 1991 charges against Clarence Thomas.

Warren has shown both an ability to get under Trump's skin and an assertiveness that could serve her well. Her potential strength in the New Hampshire primary could make her a player in the nominating contest, but last week's controversy may prove a long-term problem as might her outspokenly liberal image.

Most others planning campaigns or even being mentioned are unknown entities. The recent Senate Judiciary Committee hearings on Brett Kavanaugh provided auditions for Sens. Cory Booker, Kamala Harris and Amy Klobuchar with mixed results.

There is simply no way now to know if any can break through, though Harris may have the most potential for attracting broad support. Candidate debates will provide them an opportunity to sell themselves in highly visible pressure situations.

There has been speculation Trump's success could prompt the Democrats to embrace a nontraditional outsider like Avenatti, the aggressive attorney who attained cable news notoriety as porn star Stormy Daniels' lawyer.

Many Democrats shudder at the idea of a candidate as inexperienced as Trump. But Avenatti's initial visit to Iowa attracted some favorable voter reactions, and news stories about him reportedly attracted an unusually high level of internet response. Still, his controversial background is just beginning to get scrutiny.

Each Democrat will probably try to outdo the other in condemning Trump's presidency. But how they do it may prove more important than what they say.

Carl P. Leubsdorf is the former Washington bureau chief of The Dallas Morning News and a frequent contributor. Email: carl.p.leubsdorf@gmail.com

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