When Molly Murphy, a pollster for Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign, took the stage at one of the first post-election meetings of the Democratic National Committee’s leadership, she didn’t mince words. The Democratic Party’s approach to Donald Trump, she stressed, has to change. The party can’t afford to focus on every outrage, every violation of norms, every controversial cabinet appointment. What matters most to voters, Murphy explained, is their pocketbooks, and the Democrats need to make that their front-and-center issue.
Murphy’s speech, delivered at a Hyatt Regency hotel in Washington D.C., was a quiet indictment of the party’s long-standing approach to Trump. It was a candid conversation, a reality check, and a call to arms all rolled into one. The 2025 playbook, she said, cannot be the 2025 playbook. Most Americans, she pointed out, support Trump’s transition and don’t care about who he’s putting in cabinet positions.
Key Points
1. Trump’s Popularity
Murphy noted that Trump will take office more popular than he was when he started his first term, but not as well-liked as President Joe Biden and former President Barack Obama were when inaugurated. Trump’s strength, she said, has for years been that voters approve of his handling of the economy. It is here where Democrats should aim to change the narrative in his second term.
2. Demographic Shifts
Murphy pointed out that key parts of the party’s base, including young people, Latinos, and Black voters, drifted away from Democrats this election. This, she argued, was not merely due to inflation but a result of Democrats focusing on the wrong issues. She warned the party against attacking Trump for violating norms, as such issues didn’t resonate with the voters the party lost in November.
3. New Democratic Approach
Murphy’s presentation underscored that Democrats are planning a new approach to Trump. They are betting that Trump will not deliver on his promises to reduce costs and this could be their path to regain power. The Democratic messaging, she suggested, should revolve around Trump’s plans to cut taxes for the wealthy, implement tariffs that could result in higher costs for consumers, and provide “giveaways” to big corporations.
Murphy’s speech served as a wake-up call to a Democratic Party still reeling from a surprising electoral defeat. She offered a way forward, one that requires a different approach to Trump, a renewed focus on the economic concerns of voters, and an understanding of the demographic shifts within the party’s base.
In the end, it’s all about the pocketbook, Murphy reminded her audience. Trump may be popular, he may have a knack for rallying his base, but if the Democrats can convince voters that he’s hurting their financial well-being, they may yet regain power. It won’t be easy, but as Murphy’s speech indicated, it’s a challenge the party must confront head-on if it hopes to succeed in 2025 and beyond.
