Politics –
Political Playbook 2016: What’s Next?

Voters in Iowa have spoken and the first votes of the 2016 election have been cast. So, what’s next for Hillary, Bernie, Ted, Trump and all the others?  Should they stick with their political playbook, or scrap everything and start from scratch?

Politics
Although the Iowa results probably won’t make a dent in determining who actually becomes the next President of the United States, the events of Monday’s caucus will almost certainly shape the short and long-term futures of each of the remaining candidates.  Most importantly, just about everyone will need to completely redesign their political playbook.

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DONALD TRUMP

No matter how master spinner Donald Trump spent most of Tuesday trying to spin the results, the fact of the matter is he lost.  This is a big deal, primarily since Trump himself built up his own expectations so high, even he and his big hair couldn’t reach them. “We will have so much winning if I get elected that you may get bored with winning. Believe me,” Trump once bragged.  However, when he couldn’t construct a win fresh out of the starting gate, it’s no wonder the media is mocking him for launching his presidential bid with a big, fat L.

Donald Trump has proven he can fill an arena, but Monday’s results have proven he can’t fill a ballot box.  This is important, because if the man who touted himself as “a winner who does nothing but win” can’t deliver in New Hampshire next week, voters will have a hard time continuing to convince themselves he is a winner.

More than anyone on the Republican side, Trump needs to redesign his political playbook — and his image.  He can’t continue to spend his own money and do things his own way without a viable game plan.  Nor can he afford to continue to play the role of the racist, misogynist, homophobic, Muslim and Mexican-hating conservative who promises everything — and think that act will launch him into the Oval Office. That bird just won’t fly. Trump needs a ground game, a grassroots effort, town hall meetings, house parties and a cadre of door-to-door supporters, who can take his message beyond huge arenas and the “I could shoot somebody and people would still vote for me” mentality that simply won’t carry him much further.

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HILLARY CLINTON

The former First Lady and Secretary of State began 2016 deeply ahead of Bernie Sanders in the polls.  In fact, political poll site FiveThirtyEight.com gave Hillary a 67% to 33% advantage over her Democratic rival in the Iowa Caucus. So, for Mrs. Clinton to end Monday’s voting with a 0.3% win over Sanders is a powerful message — and not a good one.

To put it bluntly, voters simply don’t like and/or trust Hillary Clinton. In fact, most have absolutely no emotional connection to her whatsoever.  After 8 years of the charismatic and youthful Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton is a bit of a disappointment. She must be, if 17 and 18-year-olds are giving the rock star treatment to a white-haired socialist instead of her.

Hillary Clinton needs to douse her political playbook with gasoline and set it on fire. Granted, it might help her beat Sanders and get her the nomination, but it won’t make voters show up to support her when it really counts — during the general election.

Hilary needs to drop the elitist “I’m owed this/It’s my turn” perception and actually work for the nomination, instead of expecting the nomination.  She also needs to drop the angry and bitter tone that often displays her in a negative light among younger voters and appear more relatable.  Finally, she needs a strong infusion of youth around her ASAP. Whenever we see Hillary, we should also see a posse of youth and vigor surrounding her. HUD Secretary and likely running mate Julian Castro would be an excellent addition. Perhaps redesigning her speeches and rallies to appear more exciting would help too.

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TED CRUZ

Was his Iowa win a fluke, or a sign of things to come?  Only the New Hampshire results will determine if Cruz is on a path of victory, or also in need of a political makeover.  More to come…

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BERNIE SANDERS

Bernie’s near win in Iowa was an unexpected and very pleasant surprise.  It was also an excellent propulsion into New Hampshire, where the neighboring Vermont senator is expected to win big next Tuesday.  The political playbook for Bernie, at least for now, is to just keep doing what he’s doing.  Or, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!”

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THE OTHERS

Republican candidate John Kasich said it best when asked about his chances in New Hampshire: “If I do well, I’m movin’ on. If I get smoked there, I’m goin’ home.” Those words are not only true for Kasich, but for just about all of the remaining Republican candidates.

The poor showing in Iowa claimed the political lives of Republican Mike Huckabee and Democrat Martin O’Malley. A poor showing in New Hampshire could also be the end of the road for Rick Santorum, Carly Fiorina, Chris Christie and possibly even Ben Carson. Trimming the busload of GOP candidates down from 11 to a more manageable number will only benefit the party in the long run, by helping to focus on a clear-cut winner.

How do you think each political playbook will change by next week’s New Hampshire primary?

OK WASSUP! covers politics.  Today’s article:
Political Playbook: What’s next for the candidates?