Politics

Memo Advises Democrats To Go Low And Punch Hard While Debating The GOP

Shutterstock/Joseph Sohm

Daily Caller News Foundation logo
Molly Prince Politics Reporter
Font Size:

Two prominent debate preppers for the Democratic Party released a memo Monday providing guidelines on how Democrats should go about debating their Republican counterparts in preparation for the November midterm elections.

Ron Klain, a “debate-prep guru” for all of the Democratic presidential candidates since 1992, and John Neffinger, a former DNC communications director, circulated the 10-page memo, which consisted of 40 different rules and was first reported by Axios.

The duo have distributed debate tips to individual candidates every year since 2006, however, this election cycle they are consolidating efforts and providing insight to all Democrats, according to the memo. (RELATED: Senate Midterm Preview)

“The debate ‘judges’ — the media (old and new) and the voters — have come to see debates as a competitive exercise, not just an information delivery opportunity, and they are looking for a winner to crown and a loser to shame,” the memo states. “‘Staying above the fray’,’just getting my message out’, and ‘pretending like my opponent isn’t there’ are NOT viable debate strategies.”

The memo also emphasizes that debates should be looked at as “pugilistic encounters,” and the most salient recommendation for any Democratic debater is “Smile … and attack.”

It also warns that Republicans will likely model their own debate strategy off of President Donald Trump, referring to his tactics as “arrogant, antagonistic, filled with insults and nicknames and lies.”

But don’t get rattled, the memo reads — be a “happy warrior.”

Follow Molly on Twitter

Send tips to molly@dailycallernewsfoundation.org

All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.