What Comes After: A 2024 Game (Gameplay-PAUSED)

[KaiserDave]

Georgia and South Carolina Results Coverage

Tapper: Welcome to CNN, America's Election Headquarters, I'm Jake Tapper, and we're going headfirst into our coverage of two more states tonight, the South Carolina Republican primary, and the Georgia Democratic primary. The race has started to get negative in both parties, with Al Gore and Kamala Harris exchanging broadsides, but in the Republican Primary it's gotten downright nasty, with an influx of fake news and disinformation, personal attacks, and CNN has reported push polls being pushed to massive audiences in the state of South Carolina accusing Senator Josh Hawley of participating in sex rituals. Hawley has been hitting his opponents with more, mainstream attacks. Both primaries look to be highly contested, polls show slight edges for Kamala Harris and Ron DeSantis. It's 8'clock on the east coast and that means polls in both states have closed.

CNN is projecting both races are too early to call. But there is a top-two pairing of Kamala Harris and Al Gore and Ron DeSantis and Josh Hawley in their respective contests, and with Kari Lake and Eric Adams in third place in their respective contests. But it's very very early, we have very little actual vote in.

Al Gore: 35% | 15,183
Kamala Harris: 30% | 13,014
Eric Adams: 18% | 7,809
Gretchen Whitmer: 8% | 3,470
Jeff Merkley: 6% | 2,603
Kirsten Gillibrand: 2% | 867
Ro Khanna: 1% | 467
Pete Buttigieg: 1% | 364

Ron DeSantis: 34% | 12,920
Josh Hawley: 25% | 9,458
Kari Lake: 19% | 7,188
Glenn Youngkin: 11% | 4,161
Roger Stone: 4% | 1,513
Nikki Haley: 4% | 1,452
Matt Gaetz: 3% | 1,001
Larry Hogan: <1%| 234
Justin Amash: <1% | 192
Lin Wood: <1% | 1

Total Precincts Reporting: ~5%

[KaiserDave]

Georgia and South Carolina Results Coverage

Tapper: Welcome back to CNN, we're covering the Republican primary in Georgia and the Democratic primary and South Carolina, and I'm just gonna hand it to John King at the magic wall.

King: Well Jake first let's look at the Democratic primary, we're seeing a fair bit of southern Georgia come in, that's strongly African American here in the coastal plain, reporting very strong numbers for the Vice President, the current one that is, some have Mayor Adams even running ahead of Vice President Gore, but this is fairly low population. Harris is getting some strong numbers here in the southwest though, where we have Columbia for instance. Then we have some vote here in the north in the Blue Ridge and in the exurbs of Georgia, in Dalton County, also in Cobb County there is some vote reporting, which thus far, thus far, been more favorable to Vice President Gore, that's fairly vote rich. Strong showing here from Vice President Gore, and it's been more favorable to other candidates like Gretchen Whitmer and Jeff Merkley, Jeff Merkley will be watching Clarke County, that's where Athens is, a lot of young progressives at UGA, where he's received some good coverage in the student-run newspaper The Red & Black, so I'm told. But why is Vice President Gore running ahead, and I think the answer lies in DeKalb county, which has reported some results, and that's that Vice President Gore is holding up alright with African Americans in Atlanta, Harris is up in DeKalb, but she'd like to see a bigger lead, her numbers with African Americans aren't as strong as they were in South Carolina some weeks ago. That was a big win, so she has some room to wiggle, but not a ton.

Back with the Republicans, we have Governor DeSantis up, he's getting some strong numbers in Charleston by 11-points, and in Beaufort County, that's pretty strong. He's up in Richland County, that's where Columbia is. He's up in Greenville County, very important. But Josh Hawley is starting to close the gap, check out Horry County on the border with North Carolina, Hawley is running up a 12-point lead. Very pro-Trump area, remember Tom Rice? Congressman, Republican, conservative, voted to impeach Trump after Jan. 6th and was swiftly defeated in his primary. Hawley up big there, Lake doing well too, so Hawley is winning rural areas, he's doing alright in some high-population areas too, will it be enough, we'll see soon.

Tapper: Thanks John, more to come from CNN, stay with us.

Al Gore: 31% | 78,416
Kamala Harris: 30% | 76,181
Eric Adams: 18% | 45,142
Jeff Merkley: 10% | 20,703
Gretchen Whitmer: 8% | 17,270
Kirsten Gillibrand: 1% | 2,534
Ro Khanna: 1% | 2,534
Pete Buttigieg: <1% | 964

Ron DeSantis: 33% | 75,515
Josh Hawley: 27% | 61,785
Kari Lake: 17% | 38,901
Glenn Youngkin: 12% | 27,460
Roger Stone: 4% | 9,153
Nikki Haley: 4% | 9,001
Matt Gaetz: 3% | 6,561
Larry Hogan: <1%| 1,246
Justin Amash: <1% | 1,101
Lin Wood: <1% | 16

Total Precincts Reporting: ~30%

[KaiserDave]

Georgia and South Carolina Results Coverage

Tapper: Now we're heading back to John King at the magic wall.

King: Thanks Jake, let's check South Carolina first, that race is getting way to close for comfort for the DeSantis camp, team Hawley is getting some numbers in rural areas that have got to making some eyes just pop. He's running close to Trump '16 (who won, BIG!) in some parts of the southwestern coastal plain, check Allendale County, 44% for Trump in 2016, 40% for Hawley right now, Hawley's problem is that Trump had to deal with a lot more of a fractured opposition, he got 32% statewide, will that be enough for Hawley, probably, but he'll need to find some more vote. He's doing better in some of these suburbs than Trump, where he charged hard into in the last few weeks. The remaining vote is fairly evenly distributed, I'm watching Oconee County which has a lot of vote out, it's in a DeSantis friendly neighborhood but it matches Hawley turf in some ways. I think if DeSantis holds on, which is probably a coin toss, he'll have Governor Youngkin to thank, who, for some reason, has passed on this primary.

Tapper: That's a lot to digest, the Democrats? Al Gore still ahead...

King: That's right he's clinging to a stubborn lead, we've got a lot in from Fulton and from other Atlanta area counties with tons of votes, and Kamala Harris is up, but not by a lot! Not by as much as she might've hoped for! But what's left let's see. Good news for Harris, a lot left from rural areas in general, especially the south west, and a lot left from Clayton County, which is strongly African American. She's gotta hope that there's enough there to give her the lead, but Al Gore has held on really strongly tonight, so who is to say. Folks, we have two nail-biters.

Tapper: Thanks John, more to come from CNN, stay with us.

Al Gore: 31% | 202,548
Kamala Harris: 31% | 197,148
Eric Adams: 19% | 124,142
Jeff Merkley: 9% | 58,135
Gretchen Whitmer: 7% | 45,470
Kirsten Gillibrand: 1% | 6,444
Ro Khanna: 1% | 6,374
Pete Buttigieg: <1% | 3,164

Ron DeSantis: 31% | 163,938
Josh Hawley: 29% | 153,361
Kari Lake: 18% | 95,190
Glenn Youngkin: 11% | 58,172
Roger Stone: 4% | 21,153
Nikki Haley: 4% | 20,184
Matt Gaetz: 3% | 17,761
Larry Hogan: <1%| 3,646
Justin Amash: <1% | 2,931
Lin Wood: <1% | 74

Total Precincts Reporting: ~70%

[KaiserDave]

Georgia and South Carolina Results Coverage

Tapper: What's going on John?

King: So we've got more and more of the vote in and we have too things to note. Firstly, the outstanding combination of urban African American Atlanta vote and rural African American vote, especially in the southwest, has given Vice President Kamala Harris the lead, a small one, but a lead. And onto South Carolina, remaining vote in Oconee, Pickens, and Lexington County have not lead to Governor DeSantis sacrificing his lead. But we've got some vote left, so it could narrow further....can someone confirm that. Yes, okay. Well Jake, take it away.

Tapper: Well folks, we have dual projections in Georgia and South Carolina.

Tapper: We've projecting Vice President Kamala Harris is taking home the Georgia primary and some 40 or so delegates, and that Governor Ron DeSantis has saved his campaign with a victory in the winner-take all state of South Carolina, granting him all 50 delegates. In this winner take all contest, although it's a more narrow result than his team had hoped for, and that polls had projected a while, they nearly threw his one away, but a win is a win, especially when the winner takes it all.

Kamala Harris: 32% | 275,736 ✓
Al Gore: 30% | 258,503
Eric Adams: 19% | 163,718
Jeff Merkley: 10% | 86,168
Gretchen Whitmer: 7% | 60,317
Kirsten Gillibrand: 1% | 8,617
Ro Khanna: 1% | 8,574
Pete Buttigieg: <1% | 4,864

Ron DeSantis: 31% | 227,051 ✓
Josh Hawley: 29% | 213,015
Kari Lake: 18% | 132,216
Glenn Youngkin: 10% | 73,453
Roger Stone: 4% | 29,553
Nikki Haley: 4% | 28,284
Matt Gaetz: 3% | 22,961
Larry Hogan: <1%| 4,946
Justin Amash: <1% | 4,731
Lin Wood: <1% | 92

Total Precincts Reporting: ~95%

[KaiserDave]

Georgia and South Carolina Final Results

Kamala Harris: 32% | 285,736 | 41 Delegates ✓
Al Gore: 30% | 262,503 | 36 Delegates
Eric Adams: 18% | 162,718 | 21 Delegates
Jeff Merkley: 10% | 99,168 | 7 Delegates
Gretchen Whitmer: 6% | 57,317 | 0 Delegates
Gavin Newsom: 3% | 25,357 | 0 Delegates
Kirsten Gillibrand: 1% | 9,717 | 0 Delegates
Ro Khanna: 1% | 9,174 | 0 Delegates
Pete Buttigieg: <1% | 4,964 | 0 Delegates

Ron DeSantis: 31% | 237,051 | 50 Delegates ✓
Josh Hawley: 29% | 223,015 | 0 Delegates
Kari Lake: 18% | 135,216 | 0 Delegates
Glenn Youngkin: 10% | 78,453 | 0 Delegates
Roger Stone: 4% | 30,553 | 0 Delegates
Nikki Haley: 4% | 29,284 | 0 Delegates
Matt Gaetz: 3% | 24,961 | 0 Delegates
Larry Hogan: <1%| 5,246 | 0 Delegates
Justin Amash: <1% | 4,931 | 0 Delegates
Lin Wood: <1% | 94 | 0 Delegates

Total Precincts Reporting: 100%

[KaiserDave]

The Delegate Race

Kamala Harris: 80 Delegates
Al Gore: 61 Delegates
Eric Adams: 31 Delegates
Gavin Newsom: 18 Delegates
Gretchen Whitmer: 15 Delegates
Jeff Merkley: 14 Delegates
Kirsten Gillibrand: 0 Delegates

Ron DeSantis: 75 Delegates
Josh Hawley: 17 Delegates
Kari Lake: 10 Delegates
Glenn Youngkin: 7 Delegates
Nikki Haley: 7 Delegates
Roger Stone: 6 Delegates
Matt Gaetz: 2 Delegates
Justin Amash: 0 Delegates
Lin Wood: 0 Delegates

Note: Remember the rules! 4 RL days to NV R and MI D. Hope everyone is having fun!

[VirginiaAaron]

LIN WOOD ANNOUNCEMENT

At an event on a pier in Charleston with about 12 guests, most of whom were homeless South Carolinians looking for free food, Lin Wood gave a speech following his dismal finish in his home state.

Ladies, gentlemen, non-binaries, and fellow Armenians. It appears we have come to the end of the road. Despite our landslide victories in Iowa, New Hampshire, and now South Carolina, the mainstream media and RNC establishment have refused to acknowledge our victories. We've fought a difficult campaign. We've endured love, blood, sweat, and a few death threats from Josh Hawley. Unfortunately, we've reached the end of the road. It's time to put our efforts behind the candidate that can WIN the next general election. It is my honor to give my full-throated endorsement to Kari Lake!

OOC: It's been a ton of fun playing as Lin Wood. Thank you for dealing with his insanity and allowing me to have a little fun with this game. Who knows? Maybe he'll pop in randomly on occasion. Realistically, Lin would probably sign a deal with Newsmaxx or OANN so if Dave is okay with it, that'll be Lin's lore. I hope Kari Lake can carry the baton forward and continue Lin's mission of getting America hard...like Wood.

Logo made myself

[McGovernite]

Badger Bound: Moving Onwards

Accessed via Imgur

After the Georgia primary, the following campaign memo was sent out to campaign staffers on the Gillibrand Team:

Hey folks, George here. We've gotten final results in from the Georgia primary, the Senator placed last with 1%. I know many of you are concerned after reading that, but please don't be. The Senator invested nothing in Georgia and pulled everyone out of the state. This seems to be the policy for states like Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, and Mississippi. Let Gore and Harris fight it out, they're making themselves look like idiots on the national stage - great for us. Kirsten will stay above the fret publicly, but we'll be running ads indirectly attacking other competitors while lifting her up on social media, radio, and TV. We've got some new endorsements and our fundraising numbers are up. We are doing fine, just keep doing what you're doing. Voter outreach is probably our biggest priority at this point. A lot of people know Gore and Harris, but very few with the exception of mostly suburban or urban women don't know much about Kirsten. We're hitting the media markets HARD with ads boosting her profile and background, tell everyone you know that she's never lost a race, has a progressive track record, and has worked to pass meaningful legislation under Republicans and Democrats. Although progressives don't like Republicans, it still plays will to show that she can get things done in a bipartisan manner. We're on our way to Michigan right now. Will be spending the next few days here, hitting suburbs and other metros hard, staying out of Detroit because of high black population and Whitmer's popularity - not much to gain there (we'll still be running ads there, though). We're flying out about 50 more staffers to Michigan to be dispersed across the state. Door knocking, calling voters, and writing letters are big points of our strategy. GOTV strategy is big here. Kirsten will be holding rallies, meet and greets, and touring facilities across the state. Y'all will hear from me soon.

Remember, Brave Wins.

Thanks,

George

The campaign team was indifferent on the Georgia result. Of course, they wanted the Senator to do better, but the bad performance was expected as the Senator had no effort put into the Peach State. Moving forward to Michigan, the Senator was confident that she could do well in the state. The background of Michiganders largely fit into Senator Gillibrand's story and appeal. Hitting the cities and suburbs hard, Senator Gillibrand largely targeted the female demographic, but also made inroads with men. She brought out some of her male surrogates like Rep. Beto O'Rourke to help rally all kinds of people, using his star power to make an appeal. Additionally, she also brought out Gov. Maura Healey to help fire up the youth, women, and the LGBTQ+ community in Michigan.

In addition to the Michigan efforts, the Senator had surrogates hit Massachusetts, Maine, Virginia, Texas, Colorado, and California hard. She's hopeful and fighting hard to win the first 3 listed above, and looking for good finishes in the others. Realizing that she likely won't do the best in southern states like Alabama, she's pulled out all efforts in AL and MS, re-diverting the southern efforts to VA and NC. She will visit other Super Tuesday states in the following days, and attended some events virtually while in Michigan. The Senator ran ads, blitzing the Badger State with her name, logo, and policies. She was confident.

It's also important to note that the Senator did not speak about the Georgia result, largely staying absent from the social media war, focusing her efforts on a hopeful message for the future primaries.

[John King wannabe]

ATL for KDH

"We're projecting Vice President Kamala Harris is taking home the Georgia primary and some 40 or so delegates..."

The campaign watch party erupted in cheers, music, and flashing lights as Vice President Harris' face flashed on the two giant screens on each side of the stage erected for the Vice President's remarks. The crowd broke out in cheers of "Ka-ma-la, Ka-ma-la!" as they waved purple and yellow light sticks to the beat of each song that played. The energy in the room was electric and somewhat contagious, not at all like the nail biting anxiety filled nights from before. The supporters in Georgia were prepared to party whether VP Harris won or lost, and clearly a win gave them an extra push with some of the music played even rubbing off on reporters who were caught swaying and swinging their arms to the occasional hip-hop song.

Meanwhile only a few minutes away from the celebration, the Vice President was upstairs in her hotel room suite with her advisors and taking calls from her opponents thanking them for their congratulations and making light hearted jokes at the direction the race has taken in the more recent days. She has also gotten in contact with her Michigan team, telling them to begin to invest considerable resources into the Wayne County and neighboring county areas as well as areas such as Lansing to ensure a strong finish in the state. After a while the Vice President would thank her staff for a great operation in Georgia before departing to her victory party.

Upon arriving there, the Vice President was greeted by Senator Jon Ossoff who she asked to introduce her at the event. As the Senator was announced the crowd went up in cheers and applause with the spontaneous chant of "VP, VP, VP, VP" ringing out which made the current Vice President throw her head back and laugh. Senator Ossoff kept his remarks short and sweet thanking the Vice President's supporters for showing out in a strong show of force for her and introducing the Vice President by saying; "And now, I am proud to introduce a proud black woman, a proud Oakland native, proud Georgia Democratic primary winner! A former DA, California Attorney General, United States Senator, the current Vice President of the United States and the next President of the United States, Kamala Devi Harris!"

“Thank you! Thank you all so much! Wow! Wassup Georgia! It is good to be back in the ATL! (Laughs) Thank you all so very much for this warm welcome!”

“Let’s give a hand to your great United States Senator, Jon Ossoff! Thank you Senator so much for that wonderful introduction and I gotta say, with Senator Ossoff, Senator Warnock and I guess I can now say me! Georgia you sure know how to pick them! (Laughs) I am so, so, so grateful to all of you who are here tonight to celebrate this amazing victory in the great state of Georgia! And come November we are gonna win this state again!”

“To all of you, who voted, who encouraged your friends, family, neighbors and co-workers to vote, this victory belongs to you! It does! You organized and advocated, worked day and night to get our campaign message out and thanks to you our lead in pledged delegates and the total popular vote remains strong! Obviously it’s not over but I wouldn’t want to start this campaign any other way! Thanks to all of you, that glass ceiling separating women from the Oval Office gets weaker and weaker every day!”

“Now, we have one more contest in this race before we go national, the great state of Michigan is coming up next! And I intend to compete and fight for every last vote in that state, and come November I believe we are gonna win Georgia and Michigan! The winning coalition that sent Joe Biden and I to the White House will send the first black woman President of the United States to the White House! And I can’t wait to get work done for the American people!”

“The important work, such as tackling the clear and present poverty crisis in this country and ensuring that Americans do not need to work two to three jobs just to pay their rent on time. Where they can send their childhood to school and not have to worry about a gunman opening fire on them, and America where a mother can take her child to the emergency room and not have to worry about her insurance not covering the costs and having to pay thousands of dollars out of pocket. This is the America I believe in, this is the America I will lead as President, and Georgia this is the America you voted for tonight!”

“So! Let’s get to work! Our country depends on you all. If you voted for the first today, even if your preferred candidate didn’t win, don’t stop organizing or fighting for what you believe in! Keep that energy cause we need it! Our country needs young people like you ready to take action and change the system by using your voice! I know that there are times when you believe that no-one is listening to your voice, well let me tell you, when I am President I am going to make sure people listen to the voices of the young people in this country!”

“So thank you all so much! For this amazing victory in Georgia and to all of you watching across the country who support our campaign, keep your energy, keep your faith, and don’t forget to vote! Thank you all so much! May God bless you and may God bless the United States of America!”

After the event the Vice President would celebrate with her advisors and supporters as she danced on stage and lip synced along to songs for a solid 15 minutes before giving a final wave and mouthing to the crowd "I'll be back!" before departing the stage and climbing into the motorcade which would take her straight to the airport tarmac to board Air Force Two and take her to Detroit, Michigan.

[John King wannabe]

For the People: Freeway of Love. (Part 1)

With the Georgia win behind them and the wind on their backs, the Harris campaign was more optimistic than ever regarding their chances on winning the Democratic nomination. They believed that these wins showed Democratic voters that the Vice President could rise above strong opposition and win in what is perceived to be tough to win contests.

Although the Harris campaign is not expecting to win Michigan, they believe a strong enough finish will give the Vice President just enough strength going into Super Tuesday. The campaign has examined other presumed frontrunner candidates and have learned most have burned out after Super Tuesday not expecting a strong challenge. To counter this the campaign has buffed up it's ground game and operations in contests after Super Tuesday and has gotten in contact with donors and fundraisers asking them to keep up their support even after the large round of national contests.

Upon arriving in Detroit, Michigan, with all the optimism in the world and practically bouncing to her SUV,the Vice President jetted off to a nearby gymnasium as is the site for many of her rallies and unveiled the fresh message of her campaign in the run-up to the Michigan primary and Super Tuesday contest.

"Wassup Detroit!" (Laughs)

"Thank you all so much! It is good to be back in Motown! And let me just say thank you so much Leanna for that wonderful introduction, what a smart and beautiful young woman and I am so glad that I have her on my side in this campaign! And let me thank all of you for showing up and showing out, ya know we just came off of a win in Georgia! And I am so glad to be in Michigan where I am hopeful we can do pretty good here!"

"So, look, I've been traveling the country for about 10 months now and I and everywhere I go I get the same question, why are you running for President? And I have to admit sometimes it does catch me off guard, I usually expect that type of question from a reporter or a pundit trying to get me in a gotcha moment but- (Laughs) its true."

"And so, after I think for a while, I always come up with the same answer. I'm running for President because of the people. Those signs that you all are holding what do they say? Kamala, for the people.  And I know I say that a lot but it is so true, I'm running for the mother here in Detroit who is holding down 2 jobs just so her kids can go to school and have food on the table even if she herself doesn't eat. I'm running for the steel worker in Ohio who prays that his social security stays intact so he can retire with dignity."

"I'm running for the disabled veteran in my home state of California who's medical bills are racking up but she simply cannot afford to pay them because a job will not hire anybody in her condition. I'm running for the teenage boy in Illinois who lost his mother and father to gun violence and wakes up everyday determined to make them proud by standing up in the fight to end gun violence for all. I'm running for an America we all can believe in, and I hope you will join me on that journey."

The Vice President has also began putting boots on the ground in several Super Tuesday states while she's in Michigan. Sending out surrogates to represent her in their home states with a significant focus on the states of California, Texas, North Carolina, Virginia, Minnesota, and Alabama. The Vice President believes these states will give her the momentum to put the nomination on lockdown and scare any opponents into considering dragging the race to the convention which the Vice President more recently told a reporter who questioned her on the possibility saying it would be "Dangerous for party unity if this gets dragged to the convention"

The Vice President has also cranked up her more moderate messaging when it comes to the upcoming slate of states, believing modeling her campaign after the Biden 2020 model of pragmatism and decency would treat her best. Of course the Vice President hasn't hesitated to sprinkle in some of her progressive bon-a-fides when questioned, such as her fight for criminal justice reform, universal healthcare and raising the minimum wage. The Vice President believes that in a field where every candidate is calling themselves a progressive and running to her left she can gain an advantage of middle leaning long time primary voters and benefit from a progressive vote split.

With the campaign about to hit overdrive and the Vice President not letting her foot off the gas, it is clear that the Harris campaign isn't taking any chances in the coming days.

[Devout Centrist]

Lake Concession and End of Campaign

I want to thank all my volunteers and supporters in South Carolina and across the nation for their valiant efforts over the past few weeks. You showed the political establishment that the American people want a true leader in the White House, and I am admire your dedication and perserverance in the face of adversity.

Unfortunately, there is no longer a path forward for my campaign. Today, I am dropping out and endorsing my good friend Roger Stone for President. He is a proven leader with the skills needed to vanquish the DC establishment and to bring the conservative movement back to its rightful glory. I have nothing but good things to say about him, and I hope to join him on the trail soon.

Take back control America! Thank you!

[VirginiaAaron]

NOTE: Lin Wood will be switching his endorsement to Roger Stone following the suspension of Kari Lake's campaign.

[PPT Spiral]

Lake and Stone

Days before Nevada, Roger Stone was feeling good. The campaign was focused, the crowds were growing, and the competition was mostly distracted with South Carolina.

Then Kari Lake dropped out and issued that fateful endorsement.

Moments after getting the call from Lake about her intentions, Stone was very grateful for this momentous honor. He knew it would change everything: not just in Nevada, but beyond. Now so much more credence was added to Stone's claims about being the true Trumpist who can really unite the party. Work went into effect immediately to merge the Lake and Stone teams across the country, acting in synergy to compile their voter files and outreach efforts. In addition, Kari Lake's base of blue-collar workers, retirees, and immigration hawks would now have a safe pair of hands in a candidate who has preached much the same message over the past year. Between now and the upcoming primary, solidifying these voters to the Stone column and turning them out would be paramount.

Soon after the announcement, Lake would begin joining Stone in "unity rallies" among key parts of Nevada. Lake would share some tales of their experiences on the campaign trail, vouch for Stone's authenticity and tenacity on the important issues, along with persuading conservatives that Stone is the only option for victory—in the primaries and the general election.

More than ever, Stone could hit on the issues that animated Nevadans of all stripes and not have that message crowded out by opponents. One very passionate, simmering issue on the minds of many in rural Nevada pertains to the overwhelming percentage of state land owned by the federal government. Stone's libertarian, anti-establishment creeds would perfectly hit to that sentiment as he launched an onslaught against the government while holding one of these rallies in Ely:

By any measure you look at, over 80% of land in Nevada is owned by the feds. Over 80%! They profit off of you, the miners, the ranchers, the small business owners, and everyone in between. The BLM has sought to continue colonizing the people of Nevada, relegating you to peasants who don't even own the ground beneath you! Let's be clear, though, that this land came from your ancestors and was passed onto you, not them! This is YOUR land, not THEIRS! *cheers and applause*

When I'm President, I will blow the door open on this federal overreach! We will give the rightful land here in Nevada and across the West back to you, the American people! You all are the masters of your own destiny, and nobody can take that from you!

Another resonant theme would be emphasized often in the final days: Social Security. Stone, much like Lake and Trump, has always been vocal about the need to preserve the program and save the cost cutting for the bureaucracies that make life worse for Americans. While speaking in Henderson, locking down support across Clark County, he touched on what we owe our older Americans:

All of you here have been paying into Social Security. Many of you have been paying for decades. It's yours. No one in their right mind can ever go between you and that! I've always been adamant on this, standing with Kari Lake and standing with President Trump from day one.

Folks like DeSantis talk a good game, but he and his kind have been on the side of the elites, voting to cut your Social Security. Seniors among us, you know what's up. How can we reward people who see you busting your asses off for years, and then take away your rightfully earned checks? We can't! If we really want to balance our budget and reduce the deficit, let's stop that blank check with bombs and ammo galore to Ukraine. Let's aim for the tentacles of this government that keep encroaching in more and more of our lives. This is an America First movement, and America First means Americans First!

As Stone and Lake continued to crisscross the state along with other surrogates in the final days, they touched on other issues of overlap such as strict border security and reverting to local control of politics. The two fed off of each other's energy, and that was also evident in the crowds they attracted. Conservatives were now truly coalescing, recognizing the moment, and the Silver State would be a perfect experiment in seeing this play out in real time.

[Alcibiades]

Gaetz Suspension and Endorsement of Stone


Folks, when I announced I was running for President, it was never about me. It was about you, us, keeping the MAGA movement that President Trump started alive. Recent results have made it clear that me remaining in the race for the Republican nomination is not conducive to achieving that end. Therefore, I am announcing today that I am suspending my campaign, and endorsing my great friend Roger Stone. Roger and I see eye-to-eye on almost everything, and few people have proven themselves greater patriots and friends to President Trump’s legacy. It was my pleasure to join with Roger to expose the corruption, crimes and lies of Ron DeSantis, and I know he is fervently committed to draining the swamp. It is now imperative that all MAGA patriots unite behind Roger’s campaign to ensure our movement carries this primary, and to stop all the RINOs and fakers competing for the nomination. Finally, I’d like to thank all the wonderful people who worked for, volunteered for, and endorsed my campaign. You have done a great service to this country, and you can all be tremendously proud of what we have achieved. Thank you, God bless you, and God bless the United States of America!

[RGM2609]

Gavin Newsom rallies the troops for Al Gore in the West

Since his withdrawal from the race, Gavin Newsom has always planned to support Al Gore's campaign as a surrogate, but the results in Georgia made him do so more quickly than he expected.

Immediately after the Georgia race was called, Gavin Newsom began scheduling events in California to boost support for Gore, focusing especially on major population centers as well as suburbs. While he still presented the main Gore message of pragmatism and electability, he shifted it ever so slightly to the left to make it suitable for California, especially by focusing on the issue of climate change, presenting Gore as the best chance to save the environment.

Newsom also views Utah and Colorado as a free-for-all, and plans to make the Gore campaign the first to show up. He made acontacts and built up the organisation while still going to rallies in Denver and its suburbs as well as in St. Lake City.

[OBD]

GLENN YOUNGKIN 2024: AMERICA, RENEWED

Nevada: All In

Right after his stunning New Hampshire victory, the Youngkin campaign made the difficult decision to stick to the script and go all in on Nevada. And now, it was time to cash in on that bet. Allowing the cards in South Carolina to fall as they may, Youngkin retained a laser-focus on winning the Silver State and becoming the first GOP candidate to two early victories (or, alternatively, finishing a strong second, keeping up the momentum and winning a decent delegate prize).

And right before South Carolina, the Youngkin campaign revealed their ace in the hole. Preemptively aiming to draw Nevada coverage back to their native caucus (and away from the Palmetto State), the campaign scheduled a special rally in Las Vegas on February 16, headlined by a 'special guest'. And, in front of an enthusiastic crowd, a fellow Governor and native son of Clark County took the stage to announce his support, and hopefully give the Youngkin campaign the shot in the arm they needed to take the Silver State.

...As sheriff of Clark County, I fought criminals and incompetent politicians alike to keep folks like you safe. And I've seen what Glenn has done in Virginia, his commitment to cleaning up our streets and restoring law and order, and his work to elect crime-fighting Republicans up and down the ballot, across the nation - folks, he's the real deal. There is one candidate I trust to end pro-crime Democrat policies, one candidate that will fight passionately for the fine men and women in law enforcement as President. And he's the man that's going to flip Nevada red this November. Folks, Glenn Youngkin!

The endorsement of Governor Joe Lombardo - like the endorsement of Governor Sununu back in New Hampshire - was a game changer. Once more, the Youngkin campaign had the backing of the most powerful Republican in the state, and once more, they were committed to taking advantage of this. In addition to a Nevada-only ad including soundbites from Lombardo's endorsement speech (alongside glowing reviews from various Nevada Republicans from all walks of life), Lombardo would join Youngkin on the campaign trail for the closing days of the Nevada push, returning to Clark County to speak to many of the Republicans that he served as Sheriff. Accordingly, Youngkin's message would shift slightly in the final days of the campaign. Alongside the bread-and-butter messages of restoring sanity to education and economic policy, Youngkin emphasized his tough-on-crime positions and that of the Republican field, he was the candidate of law and order. Backed up by Governor Lombardo, Youngkin would decry the crime and lawlessness that Democrat politicians enabled in suburbs from Henderson to Spring Valley, and would reiterate his promise to clean up the streets and protect hard-working, middle-class Americans from the scrouge of criminals and rioters.

Joining Youngkin on the trail were old and new endorsees alike. Strong performances from Youngkin and his commitment to LDS outreach led to a slew of prominent Utah politicians - highlighted by Senator Mitt Romney - throwing their support to the Virginia Governor. The Youngkin campaign quickly moved to get their strong team surrogates helping in Nevada. Representative John Curtis headlined a Youngkin event in Elko before heading to Reno, hoping to rally rural LDS adherents to Youngkin's banner and prevent the Governor from being completely blown out in Nevada's rural areas. Rep. Blake Moore, former Rep. Mia Love, and Senator Romney, meanwhile, would join Youngkin at events in Las Vegas, demonstrating strong support from conservative establishment Republicans and prominent LDS elected officials while paving the way for a strong Youngkin push in Utah. Members from California would also be asked to make appearances - particularly, Rep.'s Steel and Kim would continue their crucial outreach efforts with Asian-Americans in the Vegas suburbs, while other Californian surrogates would begin to lay the groundwork for Youngkin's campaign in California.

At this time, the Youngkin campaign began eying Super Tuesday as well. Bolstered by self-funding and strong support from establishment donors, the initial target list for ad buys was set - California, Utah, Colorado, Minnesota, Vermont, Massachusetts, North Carolina, and of course, Virginia, were on the list, a healthy mix of top targets and possible reach states. They would also test the waters in a major delegate prize - Texas - buying ads solely in the major metropolitan areas. Prioritizing states with high suburban, college-educated, populations, Youngkin was ready to build off of his early momentum and make his mark on the GOP primary. In these target states, Youngkin staff continued building volunteer numbers, talking to voters, and reaching out to donors and endorsees, preparing for the hectic final push to come - while staff in other states were relocated to the targets.

After touring Reno and Carson City, Youngkin's campaign would wrap up in Vegas. Setting up camp in Nevada's largest city - while Lombardo, returning to Carson City, rallied the troops in the north - Youngkin held one last rally in downtown to rev up his supporters as his surrogates, campaign staff, and volunteers worked to amp up turnout across the state. Youngkin strategists were proud of their strong Nevada push, and were confident in at least a top-two finish for the Governor.

[𝕭𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖆 𝕸𝖎𝖓𝖔𝖑𝖆]

February 2024

Coming off another solid third place in the South, Mayor Adams has attended to some New York business during this two-week-long break in the primaries before going to Michigan while working in the background for the Super Tuesday states.

Adams held a rally in Detroit which featured a very unusual guest in rapper and celebrity Eminem, who explained Adams' life story of being raised in a struggling family and making a career in a potentially hostile environment was deeply relatable to him. He also visited Flint, a poster city for the troubles of deindustrialization which is likely to be hit by all of the main campaigns.

Meanwhile, surrogates of Adams have been organizing in states like California, Alabama, Texas and North Carolina that vote on Super Tuesday. The multi-pronged strategy is still evolving and much will depend on what the Michigan results look like.

[YPestis25]

Nationwide Endorsements Pour in for Vice President Gore

Source: Me

Politico
February 18, 2024

As Vice President Gore continues to consolidate the mainstream of the party behind him, endorsements from across the country have begun to pour. From Oklahoma where former representative Kendra Horn has endorsed the campaign, to Maine where Senator Angus King has thrown his weight behind the Former Vice President, the endorsements all rang with one message: Al Gore can win and govern on day one. There are reportedly growing concerns in the party that the division between the six candidates may allow Vice President Harris to advance to the nomination unopposed, thereby imperiling Democratic chances at holding the White House this fall. Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr., commenting to the press after a joint rally with Vice President Gore, explained his endorsement, “I respect Vice President Harris, if she is the nominee I will vote for her, but if she is the nominee she will lose.”

Full list of New Endorsements:
Mike Beebe, Former Arkansas Governor
Frank Scott Jr., Little Rock Mayor
Ben McAdams, Former Utah Congressman
Deborah Ross, North Carolina Representative
Jeff Jackson, North Carolina Representative
Tom Harkin, Former Iowa Senator
Walt Maddox, Tuscaloosa Mayor
Kendra Horn, Former Oklahoma Representative
Seth Moulton, Massachusetts Representative
Jake Auchincloss, Massachusetts Representative
Angus King, Maine Senator

[YPestis25]

Advertisement: Vote for your Future/Electable

Source: DreamsTime

Open to testimonials of California Democrats

Voter 1:
Kamala barely won in California.

Voter 2:
She’s losing to Ron DeSantis and Josh Hawley!

Voter 3:
Look, I like her, but I’m worried about another 2016.

Voter 1:
I’ve voted for her in every race, but every race is always closer than it needs to be.

Voter 2:
I’m voting for someone who can win.

Voter 3:
I’m voting for Al Gore.

Voter 1:
I’m voting for my future.

*To run in all Super Tuesday states and in Michigan.*

[YPestis25]

Gore Campaign: 2/14-2/27

Source: Me

Overview

Georgia could have catapulted the Gore Campaign to the top of the pack, and now they were to continue the slog. Vice President Gore knew that the next three weeks would be a sprint, but with the other campaigns going for the kill in Michigan, he and his team had a unique opportunity to hit the ground running over the next three weeks in the Super Tuesday states. Nevertheless, while it was clear that Governor Whitmer would carry Michigan, and that the campaign would not be devoting resources on the scale of Georgia to the state, it was important that the Gore Campaign have a strong enough showing there both to prevent a shock Harris upset, and to ensure that his campaign would not be damaged by an extremely poor showing. Walking this tightrope would be the key to success over the next few weeks.

Michigan Bound: 2/14-2/15

Source: Action 5 News

The Gore Campaign would make two separate swings through the state of Michigan. The first, immediately following the Vice President’s departure from New Hampshire would take two days and would primarily be focused on the Detroit suburbs, as well as Lansing, and Grand Rapids. The swing through the state would be typified by the message that his campaign had honed in Georgia and which had nearly allowed him to make up a nine point deficit: He was the only candidate who could continue to restore America’s faith in her democracy, protect voting rights, and go toe to toe with figures like Vladimir Putin around the world. He was the only candidate with concrete plans that could actually pass through the closely divided congress that was bound to be elected in 2024. Al Gore was the only serious statesman in the race and the only candidate who could win.

The stops in the state would also have the effect of rallying the field team and the volunteers and supporters in the state. It was imperative that the Gore vote share remain above 15%, lest Vice President Harris begin a consolidation of the vote.

Southern Swing: 2/15-2/20

Departing Michigan, the Vice President would begin a marathon tour of the Upper South, starting in the DC suburbs with Senator Tim Kaine and Representative Don Beyer. In the DC suburbs, Gore’s approach would be focused on his record abroad and his ability to unite the country.

“As Vice President, we witnessed the fallout from the collapse of the Soviet Union and humanitarian crises around the globe. I got the experience and knowhow to go toe to toe with tinpot dictators around the world and to grapple with humanitarian violence the likes of which we are seeing today.”

Swinging south to Richmond and Southside, the Vice President was joined by Congressman Bobby Scott, where he touted his plans for rural renewal and growth and hammered home the need to have someone who can govern effectively in the White House.

From Virginia, Vice President Gore would travel down into North Carolina, where joined by Governor Roy Cooper, and Representatives Jackson and Ross, he would make his pitch to voters in Charlotte, Raleigh-Durham and Asheville.

“Look, I know what it takes to win. I’ve dealt with every Republican dirty trick there is, much like your own Governor and Representatives. I know what they are going to throw at me because they’ve already thrown it at me. I’m ready to run and win now. I’m ready to fight for medicare expansion, and for rural investment. I’m ready to fight against climate change and for democracy. I’m ready to fight for you.”

The tour through North Carolina completed, Al Gore would return to his homebase in Tennessee where he would make stops in Knoxville, Chattanooga, Nashville and Memphis. Here the Vice President would hit all the high notes and work to ensure that they had a knockout win in Tennessee. From his final Tennessee stop in Memphis, Vice President Gore would hit Little Rock and then Fayetteville, Arkansas, being joined in the former by its mayor.

“It was 32 years ago that I stepped out on stage with your Governor. It was 32 years ago that we brought some southern charm to win the White House, and you know what I say? I say it’s time to do that again!"

Midwestern Adventure: 2/20-2/21

Source: WKNO FM

Following the tour of the South, including many of Gore's must win states on Super Tuesday, his campaign would take a two day detour through Iowa and Minnesota. These were states which Gore did not expect to win, but strong showings here would be important to the delegate game.

In a stop in Des Moines, before heading to Iowa City with Former Senator Tom Harkin, new Gore messaging against Vice President Harris began to take shape. Commenting to the press, Vice President Gore was heard saying:

“I want to be clear I respect Vice President Harris, but I can’t quite tell what she is running on. To half her audiences she’s the tried and true progressive ready to fight for medicare for all, and to the other half she’s the bonafide moderate. More than the fact I can’t tell what she’s running on, I’m not sure she knows herself.”

From Iowa, the Vice President headed to Minnesota, and in particular Minneapolis and its environs. Again, while Minnesota was not an expected win, a strong showing in the Minneapolis suburbs could bolster Gore’s delegate math after Super Tuesday. His stops in the area would focus on his plans for healthcare including expanding Medicare to include an opt-in for those 55 and older and provide a public option health insurance program to compete with the private insurance companies.

Michigan March: 2/21-2/22

From Minneapolis the Vice President would make his final swing through Michigan before its primary on the 27th. This push would continue the messaging of the past few weeks, with a push for electability in the larger population centers and a push for rural renewal when the Vice President hit the rural parts of the state. Additionally the Vice President would begin to explicitly tie himself to the progress of the 1990s on this foray, highlighting his record as a time of stability and prosperity and promising to continue that legacy as President. As he prepared to leave Michigan behind, the Vice President made his final pitch to voters.

“We have for too long taken democracy for granted. We’ve behaved as if elections don’t have consequences, that the courts will save us from the mistakes of our elected officials, or that there is no difference between the two parties. I hope by now that you all have been disabused of that notion. We have no one to rely on but ourselves to save our rights from a party that is hellbent on rolling them back and a court which is more than happy to go along with that plan. It is up to all of you to see that we accomplish this task by choosing a nominee who can win this election and can take a Democratic Congress with them.”

New England…Again:  2/22-2/24

With Michigan now in the hands of the field team, Vice President Gore headed to New England. Here the main focus would be on Massachusetts and Maine, where, bolstered by endorsements from Representatives Auchincloss and Moulton in Massachusetts, and Senator King in Maine, the campaign felt some momentum at their back.

In Massachusetts, the Gore campaign would focus primarily on Boston and its suburbs, along with more of the working class areas in South Massachusetts near Rhode Island. There the message would be Gore’s pragmatism and governing style. His campaign would work to establish itself as the mainstream choice for voters in this area, reminding voters of the prosperity of the 90s and Gore’s commitment to unify the country.

In Maine, meanwhile, Gore would hammer home his ability to work with Congress, featuring Senator King in several events in the state, and highlighting to voters his pragmatic plans that can actually get passed.

Western Way: 2/24-2/26

Source: Newsweek

From New England, Gore would head west, hitting the three western Super Tuesday in the same number of days. The theme on this portion of the journey would be the climate. Noting the devastation that climate change had already brought to the western United States, Gore would highlight his plans to continue America’s role as a climate leader and the ways in which we can turn back the clock on climate change.

“I don’t have to tell you all what’s at stake if we decide to follow the Republicans on climate policy. You all know better than anyone what’s at stake. Out of control fires, drought, and disaster is all that lies down that road. But that is not the only path that we can take. President Biden has put the United States on the path to being the leader on climate change globally and we must continue on that path. We are on the verge of incredible new technologies that can not only prevent future damage but even undo some of the damage already done. We have the potential to turn back the clock and at the same time create new jobs at home with proper investment and that is what I plan to do as President.

Texas Trek: 2/26-2/27

The final portion of the campaign would be spent in Texas and Oklahoma, rallying first with Kendra Horn in Oklahoma City before going south into Texas and making stops in Dallas, Houston and Austin. The swings through Texas would focus on Gore’s ability to expand the electoral map and his sensible plans to reform American immigration policy.

“The talk by some about amnesty and about decriminalization misses the point - it is bad policy making that got us to this crisis in American immigration. We have made it nearly impossible for people to actually get citizenship legally. Many of our ancestors simply hopped on a boat and got off on an island with hardly any paperwork and that was that. Today potential immigrants need to fill out document upon document to even have a chance at citizenship. It is time to streamline that process.”

Messaging

The Gore Campaign messaging would continue to highlight Vice President Gore as the only electable candidate in the race and as the elder statesman who came back at the country’s time of need. In addition to this, messaging would highlight his commitment to climate change, his legacy of leadership in the 80s and 90s, and his commitment to rural revitalization. The Gore Campaign’s Legacy advertisement will be a key part of this messaging and will, along with the Future/Electable spot, feature prominently in the campaign’s media strategy.

At the same time, critiques of Vice President Harris will need to be sharpened. Attacks on Vice President Harris’s record as Attorney General, which she has yet to effectively answer will be brought up by surrogates on the campaign trail, and new attack lines about her mixed campaign messaging (is she moderate or progressive? Why is she running?) will be introduced. In particular her conduct (i.e., leniency) around Steve Mnuchin and her imprisonment of non-dangerous drug offenders will be highlighted. Messaging to this effect will take place across the Super Tuesday states and will be conducted through online, television and radio advertising.

Field Program

Resources towards developing a field program in the various Super Tuesday states will be allocated according to the tiers below. Generally offices will be set up in suburban areas first, urban areas second, and if possible in small towns last. Field program messaging will mirror that of the national campaign, and the Gore Campaign’s field experience in South Carolina, New Hampshire and Georgia will be utilized to build strong programs quickly in Super Tuesday states.

Resource Devotion
Tier 1:
Virginia
North Carolina
Arkansas
Oklahoma
Maine

Tier 2:
Utah
Iowa
Minnesota
Texas
Massachusetts
Tennessee

Tier 3:
Alabama
Colorado
California
Vermont

[YPestis25]

Al Gore Ad: Legacy

Source: NYT

Pictures of Al Gore's Parents Flash Across the Screen

My mother and father grew up in small, poor towns in Tennessee. They worked all their lives. They saw the Great Depression and the Civil Rights Movement, the Moon Landing and the Vietnam War. My mother lost her job during the Great Depression and my father was booted out of Congress for supporting Civil Rights. They taught me to stand up for the little guy. They taught me to fight for what was right, even if it meant being unpopular. They both inspired me to devote my life to public service and to give back to your country.

Camera Shifts to Al Gore Speaking Directly to the Audience

I thought I was done with politics. I was tired and I was frustrated. And then 2016 happened, and January 6th happened, and reproductive healthcare came under attack, and I knew what my parents would have wanted me to do. I am running for President because I couldn’t bear to stand idly by while our democracy withered and our rights slipped away.

I am running for President because I could not stand to let the country that I love turn into something that I don’t recognize. I am running for President because I know you all understand the stakes of this election as much as I do. I am running for President to make sure that our legacy will not be that of  the Americans that gave up on democracy, but instead that of the Americans who saved it.

I’m Al Gore and I approve this message.

*To air in all Georgia media markets.*

*To be replayed in Super Tuesday states and Michigan.*

[OBD]

GLENN YOUNGKIN 2024: AMERICA, RENEWED

Ad 1: Back to Basics
airing high-intensity in Nevada (Las Vegas and Reno media markets), as well as aforementioned Super Tuesday states

Voiceover: Ever since Joe Biden took office, America has been in crisis...

We open with a gloomy montage of negative headlines from the past few years, particularly highlighting rampant inflation, the cost-of-living crisis, and surging crime.

Voiceover: ...We've faced galloping inflation, soaring living costs, and a complete breakdown in law and order. And instead of owning up to their failed policies, Democrats would rather push socialist indoctrination on our children!

The flaws of the Biden administration are listed on a whiteboard, with 'CRITICAL RACE THEORY' underlined at the end.

Voiceover: The Democrats clearly get a failing grade. Folks, we can do better.

cut to a smartly-dressed Governor Youngkin, walking through the hallway of a lively school.

Youngkin: I'm Glenn Youngkin, and I'm running for President because it's time for America to get back to basics.

Backed by sunny music, Youngkin walks into a classroom, with a whiteboard labelled 'BACK TO BASICS'. Below the header are numerous campaign points, which he gestures to as he speaks

Youngkin: My promises to the American people are simple. As President, I will put a stop to reckless Democrat tax-and-spend policy. I will deliver tax cuts for our hard-working middle class. I will clean up the streets and support our brave law enforcement. And, I'll ensure that no American child is forced to see socialist propaganda in the classroom!

Youngkin underlines the last point with a flourish

Youngkin: Folks, we don't need another career politician in the White House who's going to sit on his hands while our country goes down the drain. We need a fighter, a winner, someone who is committed to getting things done. As Governor of Virginia, I slashed taxes, fought crime, and restored sanity to our schools. And you can bet I'll do the same as President. [pause] Let's work together for an America, renewed.

Cut to Youngkin campaign logo

Youngkin: I'm Glenn Youngkin, and I approve this message.

[Left Wing]

Moving Forward (cont.)

By all accounts the campaign was going well. With the continued narrowing of the field Senator Merkley had continued to present himself as the standard-bearer for the progressive cause. With the endorsements rolling in and more and more small donors flocking to his campaign, the momentum was palpable.

The result in Georgia clearly painted this picture for the campaign. In a state where they had invested little resources and time, Senator Merkley had been able to reach over 10% of the vote and win delegates on a congressional district-wide basis. This was far more than they could have ever hoped for in the state months ago, considering Bernie's crushing defeats in the state in both of his campaigns.

Senator Merkley's quick trip down to Georgia to show solidarity with his volunteers on election night ended in a very celebratory mood. Through a combination of factors, they had been able to prove that the Merkley campaign was picking up steam in every corner of the country. But still, they recognized that the fourth place finish may still not look particularly strong to outside observers, so the momentum had to continue.

Big John:

After racking up endorsements from dozens of big progressive names in the last few months, Senator Merkley hoped to space out some of his more nationally prominent supporters for maximum political gain. With his progressive colleagues in the Senate almost completely united behind him now, there was one name he decided would be vital to roll out before Michigan. Someone who had become a national star in his own right by defying the media narrative and obtaining a solid victory in a swing state.

Five days before the Primary, Senator Merkley announced his colleague Senator Fetterman would be joining him for a campaign event in Monroe. While he hailed from two states over, Fetterman had become the face of Democratic revitalization in the Rust Belt. His five point victory in Pennsylvania while running on a strongly progressive platform had caught many pundits off guard and this was exactly the kind of brand Senator Merkley wanted to tie to himself when running his campaign in the Rust Belt states.

Excerpt from Fetterman's speech:

Hello! Hello!

Thank you Michigan! It's great to be here today! Listen yinz- oh forgot, you won't understand that one up here. Fetterman laughs with crowd But I'm here to talk to you today because, even though I'm just two states over, I think we share a lot of the same concerns in this election. Now before I got to the U.S Senate, I was Mayor of what was called a dying steel town. Just like so many communities here in Michigan, we had been left behind by the politicians in Washington.

I got into politics because I wanted to turn things around for my city and with a lot of work, we were able to bring people together and revitalize our local economy. Now, what happened then was that we had the same politicians who created these problems for us come down to our communities like ours and use them as props to get elected. And then continue to do nothing to deliver for us. It's a disgrace!

But I want to tell you today that Jeff Merkley will never see you as a prop. Ever since I met him, I've known Senator Merkley to be someone who fights against the complacency in Washington, whether that be on fighting unfair trade deals, tackling the opioids epidemic or standing up for the union way of life. Jeff has been our guy every step of the way.

And for those who might call him unelectable, I want to remind folks how I was left for dead by many of the pundits. I was told that I had no chance because I had a stroke. I was told my policies were too radical to win in a swing state. But we sure proved them wrong on election day. And Jeff knows how to do the same thing in this election.

...

Strategy on the Trail:

Senator Merkley would continue to barnstorm Michigan vigorously. A breakout performance in the state, especially rising above third place would be what was needed to shut down any narrative of a Harris-Gore horserace. In contrast with their increasingly nasty feud, Senator Merkley would continue to take the high road and focus on his own accomplishments as much, and his opponents negatives as little as possible.

Senator Fetterman would join him on the trail for a few days continuing his tour of post-industrial areas that propelled Bernie to victory in 2016 and continue to emphasize his pro-worker record, especially his vote against ending the rail strike and his vote against USMCA. He would also continue to heavily emphasize the Bernie endorsement, even if Senator Sanders could not join him on the trail in the days ahead. The campaign would invest a significant amount of funds into mailers and internet ads prominently featuring Merkley and Bernie side by side.

His other surrogates in Michigan (Rashida Tlaib, Abdul El-Sayed, Michael Moore) would continue to hit their respective areas of the state in an attempt to canvas as much ground as possible. He would let his surrogates go a little more negative than he personally was willing to, with Moore in particular comparing his pro-civil liberties record against Kamala Harris's DA record and Vice President Gore's past social conservatism. He would also speak heavily of Senator Merkley's efforts on water conservation and how legislation authored by him came to the aid of Flint during the water crisis.

Outside of Michigan the Merkley campaign would also be prepping for a Super Tuesday battle with surrogates and volunteers being put into overdrive. Senator Merkley planned out his post Michigan schedule carefully to emphasize the most important state targets. Some like California and Texas he had no hope of winning, but were essential that obtain delegate viability to remain contentious, therefore mandating a visit. Others were states where the Senator had a strong chance of coming on top in the contest.

Schedule:

2/28: Los Angeles, CA
2/29: San Diego, CA
3/1: Salt Lake City, UT
3/2: Denver, CO
3/3: Austin, Texas
3/4: Boston, MA

[RGM2609]

Gavin Newsom takes on Kamala Harris in San Diego

Following a speech given in San Diego in support of Vice President Gore, Gavin Newsom has taken questions from the audience. One participant asked him on his opinion of Kamala Harris and her campaign. Here is what he answered:

"Look, the reason why I believe that Vice President Gore is by far a better choice over Kamala Harris is that he is simply a better choice. Vice President Gore has confronted head-on any doubts some may have had about his candidacy and record, and he won over many sceptics, dare I say myself included. Kamala on the other hand has been unable to confront basic questions about her record, coming from fellow Democrats! Months have gone by and we still don't know, for example, why did she keep Daniel Larsen in prison? We still don't know why did she say that liberals are biased against law enforcement? We still don't know why she opposed body cameras for police officers? We still don't know, we still don't know why this progressive prosecutor didn't prosecute Steve Mnuchin's bank when they fraudulently foreclosed on thousands of Californians and then tried to suppress evidence of her own inaction? And if she can't answer these questions from fellow Democrats, imagine her against the GOP propaganda machine! A DeSantis, Hawley or, God forbid, Stone Presidency is what we actually vote for if we nominate her."

[Kuumo]

Whitmer Campaign Post-Michigan Strategy

With favorable polling numbers and the tireless campaigning of Whitmer and her home-state surrogates, the Whitmer campaign felt optimistic about their chances of bouncing back after a dominant victory in Michigan. This left the question of where to go after the primary calendar left Whitmer's home turf.

Based on the results of the first four primaries, Whitmer was believed to have the most support in the Midwest and Northeast. The states of Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Iowa were seen as the most winnable contests after Michigan due to their demographics and the support of established political leaders, with Governor Janet Mills, Representative Jared Golden, Representative Stephen Lynch, and former Representatives Cindy Axne, Abby Finkenauer, and Dave Loebsack announcing their endorsements of Whitmer. Much of the campaign's efforts outside of Michigan were on organization in the cities, suburbs, and small towns of these four states.

Governor Whitmer also announced the endorsements of several of Colorado's most prominent Democratic political leaders, with Governor Jared Polis, Senator Michael Bennet, and Representative Ed Perlmutter providing the campaign a significant boost there. While the Whitmer campaign still expects Colorado to back Senator Merkley, a path to victory was seen through the Denver suburbs, the Colorado Springs metro, and ski resort towns in the state.

The campaign also bought ad slots in the media markets of other states that were seen as less winnable but crucial for the delegate count, recognizing that a slightly stronger performance in the Atlanta suburbs could have netted Whitmer a few delegates there. The campaign saw an opening among upper middle class voters in the traditionally conservative suburbs of cities like Dallas, Charlotte, and San Diego that may have been hesitant to support the other major Democratic candidates.

The resource allocation for field organization was as follows:

Tier 1:
Colorado
Iowa
Maine
Massachusetts
Minnesota

Tier 2:
California
Texas
Vermont
Virginia

Tier 3:
North Carolina
Oklahoma
Utah

Tier 4:
Alabama
Arkansas
Tennessee