It is March 2019 again and you are Beto O'Rourke's campaign manager. What do you do differently?

[GregTheGreat657]

Please, no sabotage

[Interlocutor is just not there yet]

In before "Don't let him say 'Hell yes...'"

[Pericles]

Don't do that stupid Vanity Fair cover.

[Canis]

Stick to the same principles and policies he was running on against Cruz. Actually, release policy plans and don't hop on the goddam tables in Iowa and New Hampshire on launch day. Beto's biggest problem was he couldn't articulate why he was running and what his campaign was about until the El Paso shooting, I would have had him stick to being the electable progressive like he was against Cruz and trying to retake patriotism for the left like he did in the why kneeling for the national anthem is patriotic video that made him go viral. That was a message that everyone liked and resonated with the American people, and if he stuck to it instead of just sort of meandering around for most of the campaign trying to find a message he could have been a serious contender and maybe won.

[Xing]

Tell him to run for Senate.

[Mister Mets]

I'd tell him to run a moderate campaign, ignoring the twitter left.

There was a centrist lane that very few candidates were going for. That should be his aim, rather than bragging about how he wants to take people's guns away. It would also leave him better positioned for another statewide bid in Texas.

[Roll Roons]

I'd tell him to run a moderate campaign, ignoring the twitter left.

There was a centrist lane that very few candidates were going for. That should be his aim, rather than bragging about how he wants to take people's guns away. It would also leave him better positioned for another statewide bid in Texas.

Part of the reason he did so well in 2018 was that people could view him as they wanted to - his rhetoric was progressive but his actual voting record was moderate.

[Mister Mets]

I'd tell him to run a moderate campaign, ignoring the twitter left.

There was a centrist lane that very few candidates were going for. That should be his aim, rather than bragging about how he wants to take people's guns away. It would also leave him better positioned for another statewide bid in Texas.

Part of the reason he did so well in 2018 was that people could view him as they wanted to - his rhetoric was progressive but his actual voting record was moderate.

There are probably ways to seem liberal without providing ammunition to alienate centrists.

On the other hand, a smart strategy for a Democrat looking to differentiate himself would be to make policy proposals supported by a majority of primary voters, but opposed by the far-left.

[Sir Mohamed]

Don't bother to run 4 prez and challenge Cornyn instead.

That said, I don't think he would have won, looking at results today. He would done better than Hegar though.

[brucejoel99]

On the other hand, a smart strategy for a Democrat looking to differentiate himself would be to make policy proposals supported by a majority of primary voters, but opposed by the far-left.

[Pres Mike]

I'd tell him to run a moderate campaign, ignoring the twitter left.

There was a centrist lane that very few candidates were going for. That should be his aim, rather than bragging about how he wants to take people's guns away. It would also leave him better positioned for another statewide bid in Texas.

Part of the reason he did so well in 2018 was that people could view him as they wanted to - his rhetoric was progressive but his actual voting record was moderate.

There are probably ways to seem liberal without providing ammunition to alienate centrists.

On the other hand, a smart strategy for a Democrat looking to differentiate himself would be to make policy proposals supported by a majority of primary voters, but opposed by the far-left.

On the other hand, a smart strategy for a Democrat looking to differentiate himself would be to make policy proposals supported by a majority of primary voters, but opposed by the far-left.

I assume Mister Mets is talking about Biden as well

This is acuate at all. None of Biden's proposals were opposed by the far left. The far left just didn't think he went far enough.

The far left wants Medicare for All. But they would glady support a public option over nothing.

I really think Biden is the first nominee in American history where 100% of his party was 100% ok with everything in his platform. Meanwhile you have Republicans who will denouce 75% of Trump's platform yet glady vote for him...

[darklordoftech]

I'd tell him to run a moderate campaign, ignoring the twitter left.

There was a centrist lane that very few candidates were going for. That should be his aim, rather than bragging about how he wants to take people's guns away. It would also leave him better positioned for another statewide bid in Texas.

“The Twitter Left” doesn’t care about guns.

[SnowLabrador]

Tell him not to run in the first place.

[Skill and Chance]

Tell him not to run in the first place.

Yes, tell him to drop down to the senate race, make some pro-fracking comments, and be very careful on social issues!

[Alben Barkley]

1. Announce your campaign much earlier rather than publicly equivocate until people lose interest.
2. No stupid road trip.
3. No stupid Vanity Fair cover/interview.
4. Despite that, talk to the media and advertise yourself through regular channels rather than stand on tables in Iowa like it's 1896.
5. Don't join the crowded frenzy of Democrats scrambling to copy Bernie and go left/"progressive" to win the insignificant Twitter vote. Instead aim to be the modern Bill Clinton or JFK to win the "silent majority."
6. Especially push the idea that you're the only one who can win Texas and other sun belt states like it. (AZ, GA, etc.)
7. Take advantage of your strong Hispanic support and young, Catholic family. Also take steps to build more support and confidence in you among African-Americans in preparation for South Carolina.
8. Put that record fundraising to good use and blitzkrieg ads all over Iowa, along with creating a strong ground game.
9. Don't awkwardly speak Spanish at the debates; that is NOT what I mean by take advantage of your Hispanic support. Instead, use the debates as an opportunity to destroy the inexperienced and unelectable Pete Buttigieg, the biggest threat to your "lane." Also subtly imply that Biden, another "moderate" threat, is too old and you would be a better alternative without explicitly stating it like Swalwell did.
10. DO NOT say that you literally want to take people's guns!

It's amazing how much potential this guy squandered so quickly. Went from rising star to burnout in record time.

[dw93]

Don't run and instead spend the next 2 years building up a ground game to run for Governor in 2022. I don't think he would've beaten Cornyn in 2020, but a Beto that doesn't run for President in 2020 and instead quietly works to build a winning coalition would stand a good chance at beating Abbot next year. Instead, he ran and said "Hell yes we're coming for your guns."