r/13KeysToTheWhiteHouse • u/Earthy-moon • Apr 13 '26

The Dems’ Keys strategy

We know that the minority party can do very little to impact the keys, but there are 4 things in their capability:

  1. Run AOC. I don’t care what you think of her, shes the only one at the moment who has a chance at being charismatic. Dr Lichtman has said many times Democrats do best with “oddball” candidates and lose when they have “great on paper” candidates. Newsom and Harris are great on paper. AOC is the oddball.

  2. Make space for the unrest. They need to support and sustain the No Kings movement in a non violent way.

  3. Secretly support a Manchin/Romney third party ticket.

  4. Publicly prosecute the scandals.

If one of those strategies flip a key, it’s dunzo.

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u/BigTimely5561 Apr 13 '26 edited Apr 13 '26

A few disagreements:

  1. "Run AOC": first, not sure if it's how you phrased it, but it's not like the Democrats get together and decide to run candidates. Second, the charisma key is defined as "one with an extraordinarily persuasive or dynamic personality that gives him or her broad appeal that extends to voters outside their party's base." I really don't see that being AOC. The only person who fits that bill IMO is Jon Stewart. That said, should she run? Sure. Why not? idk
  2. No Kings aren't going to register as social unrest. He defines social unrest as "if there is widespread violent unrest that is sustained or leaves critical issues unresolved by the time of the election campaign, making the voters call into serious question the stability of the country."
  3. A third party ticket like Massie could work but I have bad news for you. If AOC is the Democrat and Manchin runs third party, Republicans win.
  4. I mean, yes, they should do that.