First let me say, I was thoroughly impressed with Hillary's energy in last night’s town hall. She was powerful and in command on stage. She made a case that her experience is the difference in this election. It was a performance that can make a difference in Iowa in my opinion.
I thought the difference maker in this Town Hall was the first question she answered.
There are defining moments that can change the narrative among voters and can energize your loyal base of support. The first question of the night to Hillary, which basically questioned her honesty and integrity, was a game changer in my opinion.
In her spirited answer, she wasn't specifically reaching out to millennial’s. She was reaching out to her loyal base of older demographic support and using history as an indicator, this demographic is more apt to vote in elections. Nate Cohn explains this in a very informative article that compares Iowa 2008/2016
Mr. Sanders’s weakness among “definite” and past voters is underpinned by the crucial demographic divide of the race: age.
There aren’t too many things that affect turnout more than age. Young voters turn out at far lower rates than older voters — even in the elections in which they vote in pretty high numbers. In the 2012 general election, just 45 percent of 18-to-29-year-olds turned out, compared with 72 percent of those over age 65, according to census data.
In lower-turnout elections, these figures are even more lopsided. Not even in the 2008 primary season was Mr. Obama able to get the young to vote at near the same rate as older voters.
This is the Sanders campaign big challenge and brings us to why I believe the first question Hillary answered could firm up her support and energize older voters.
She handled this question with a very spirited defense of her record and reminded voters she’s been at this since she was his age. Basically saying that nothing comes easy, it takes time to make real change happen and she's been fighting for it her entire political life. President Obama's presidency and the incessant push back by Republicans proves change isn't easy. It won't be easy for any President.
It was brilliant framing, because in essence she was reaching out to older voters, that understand exactly where she was coming from. Life isn't perfect. It’s a series of ups, downs and compromises to make it work. In this respect, older voters are more pragmatic about life and can relate to this argument. Older voters admire it, because of their own lifetime of experiences.
Did this moment move millennial’s her way? Probably not. They love Bernie’s message. They are idealistic. They really haven't experienced the real ups and downs of life just yet.
Older folks have and Hillary’s brilliant answer spoke directly to them!
https://t.co/fIeqLZUiHa
“They throw all this stuff at me and I’m still standing,” Clinton said. “I’ve been on the front lines of change and progress since I was your age. I have been fighting to give kids and women and the people who are left out and left behind the chance to make the most of their own lives.” Clinton went on to reflect on her time rallying for expanded healthcare coverage as First Lady: “I’ve taken on the status quo again and again. I’ve had millions of dollars spent against me... The drug companies, the insurance companies spent millions against me.”
Clinton closed by adding that “if it were easy, hey, there wouldn’t be any contest. But it’s not easy... You have to have somebody who is a proven, proven fighter. Somebody who has taken them on and won.”
Here she was at her best because she wasn’t making any effort to present herself as especially millennial-friendly or fresh. She was presenting herself exactly as she is: a politician who’s spent a lot of time in the trenches, whose station and experience in the halls of power you either take or leave.
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