Elizabeth Warren’s campaign announced today that they would continue their plan to shun big money fundraisers in favor of their grass roots strategy throughout the general election… assuming she is the nominee (From DK Today). This is not a move without risk, but let me try to explain why I believe it’s very smart. Despite the obvious potential downside of not raising enough money to run a winning campaign (which is not likely), the upsides are numerous and consistent with the vision of Warren the candidate and her campaign. In analyzing this decision (well before it was made even), I have come to see again how brilliant Warren is as a leader and candidate. In this case she is literally putting her money where her mouth is. She has a deeply held belief that the rich and powerful donor class are distorting our democratic institutions. Committing to a 100% grass roots fundraising operation is first and foremost the right thing to do for someone with the integrity of Liz Warren.
It’s also very savvy. However, before we get to the political calculus, I have some insights into how Warren “The Leader” makes decisions. I believe she always looks at issues first and foremost through a moral lens of right or wrong, fair or unfair. Then she and her team work out plans to meet the need of doing the right thing or having the fairest policy. Her clarity of vision and her insistence on fairness make the plans clearer, bolder and smarter.
Liz Warren and her team are cultivating a brand. She’s clearly a populist in that she believes the people should have more power than they do today. She believes in people power and her campaign is running on it. Her brand is reinforced by this decision. Warren walks it likes she talks it and grass roots financing is a core value for her candidacy. She’s true to herself in her decisions like this one, making her comfortable in her own skin as a candidate, a “Happy Warrior”, if you will, and this clarity of vision cascades through her campaign team and their strategies to win.
Liz Warren is smart. I don’t even think Trump could honestly say she isn’t. She’s a smart leader and although I don’t have inside knowledge, I’m nearly certain that they’ve crunched the numbers and are convinced they will have a big enough war chest. As an obviously smart leader, I’m sure she’s surrounded herself with many smart people and this shows in her campaign so far. I trust that they have a plan for 100% grass roots financing and it’s a good one.
An under-appreciated and poorly understood resource by leaders is Time. Decisions must often be made by a deadline otherwise the decision will be made by not deciding. Transitioning to a big money campaign from a grass roots one or going 100% grass roots is a decision that is highly time sensitive. It takes time to begin courting big donors for the general so that needs to start before the general. Likewise, building a 100% grass roots financing organization also takes time and needs focus. The timing of the decision makes a lot of sense whether you agree with the strategy or not.
So, from a strong moral compass comes a clear vision and a clear mission for a leader and their team. From these three pillars flow strategy and tactics. The financing decision displays both shrewd strategy and tactics. For strategy, Warren’s brand needs to reflect her values. For a presidential candidate a brand is more like a way for voters to conceptualize you as president. The grass roots funding secures Warren’s brand as a “True Populist” contrasting starkly with the pseudo-populist in the WH currently. Many other strategies arise from this decision but that’s best left for another more focused diary.
Finally, the specific tactics need to be judged since that is the crux of the most contentious debate on this decision, since by and large DKers will agree that sucking up to the donor class isn’t great for democracy. As stated, there is an obvious risk, but the consistency of vision and message are integral to Warren’s candidacy. In terms of tactics I view the decision again through the perspective that Time is a resource. In this case the candidate’s time is the parameter in question. There are only 24 hours in a day, one Elizabeth Warren and a defined number of days until Iowa and the 2020 general. How best should she use her time? Compromising with oligarchs or running a truly people powered campaign?
I’ll let history be the judge, but I believe this is a “wicked smaht” decision and I’ve come to expect nothing less from Warren and her team. Her candidacy has a Clinton ‘91 and Obama 2007 vibe. They’re making new rules for a modern campaign. Warren’s vision, consistency and integrity as a true populist is a perfect contrast to the con artist we have as president now.
i have been an ardent and vocal Warren supporter from nearly day one of her run for President. She is my Senator and I’ve followed her career before she drove the CPB into existence. I’m a donor and volunteer. This people powered campaign financing is not only the right thing to do it’s also the smart thing to do.