 of people that [say,] Democrats love to wring their hands and talk about how the Democratic Party has no message, and so on. And the truth is, there’s rarely a national message when you don’t have the White House.

But there is this insight that this issue has touched a chord in people, and the proof of it isn’t just that Democrats have been disciplined—now Republicans all over the country are forced to run ads saying, Oh, no. We want to protect people with pre-existing conditions. And it tells you how powerful that issue is.

Plotz: On the right, this issue of immigration, which to me, is mostly a mirage issue—immigration is not a crisis, in my mind—but, clearly, Republicans are galvanized about it. Should Democrats have found a way to engage on that issue? It feels like they’ve totally ceded the territory to Republicans.

Axelrod: I’ve had Democratic strategists talk to me about that and proposed that there should be a sane alternative to what to do about the caravan, and so on. I think that there is some merit to that. There’s also merit to keep on doing what appears to be working for you. I think where the caravan thing is going to work for Trump, is in places where he might have gotten Republicans to flow his way on in these red states. He may profit in these Senate races.

I will say this: Every single person I’ve spoken to, Republican and Democrat, who are involved in these races said something changed after the events of last week—whatever momentum the Republicans had was halted. And the president has lamented about that, more than he has about particularly the bomber. One Republican, a top Republican, said to me, We’re sort of back to where we were before the Kavanaugh hearings. Except in those red states, where this, I think, this immigration issue has galvanized the president’s base.

Plotz: John, does the Senate seem generationally doomed for Democrats? Is the institution completely lost? Or is it just the circumstance, that is that they just happen to be defending a lot of seats, and in years to come, they’ll recover? There is this issue of the small states, the population distribution makes the Senate a much harder get. Do you feel like the Democrats are completely hosed on it?

Dickerson: I don’
of people that [ say, ] Democrats love to wring their hired hand and spill the beans about how the Democratic Party has no message, and so on. And the truth is, there ’s rarely a home message when you do n’t have the White House. 

 But there is this insight that this emergence has touched a chord in people, and the validation of it is n’t barely that Democrats have been disciplined — immediately Republicans all over the nation are pull to run ads saying, Oh, no. We want to protect people with pre - existent conditions. And it tells you how powerful that return is. 

 Plotz: On the right, this issue of immigration, which to me, is largely a mirage issue — immigration is not a crisis, in my judgment — but, clearly, Republicans are galvanized about it. Should Democrats have found a way to engage on that return? It feels like they ’ve totally ceded the territory to Republicans. 

 Axelrod: I ’ve had Democratic strategist speak to me about that and proposed that there should be a sane alternative to what to do about the caravan, and so on. I think that there is some merit to that. There ’s besides deservingness to keep on doing what appears to be work for you. I think where the caravan thing is run to work for Trump, is in places where he might have gotten Republicans to flow his direction on in these red states. He may profit in these Senate races. 

 I will say this: Every single person I ’ve spoken to, Republican and Democrat, who are involve in these races said something changed after the events of final week — whatever momentum the Republicans had was halt. And the president has lamented about that, more than he has about particularly the bomber. One Republican, a top Republican, said to me, We ’re sort of back to where we were before the Kavanaugh hearings. Except in those crimson states, where this, I think, this immigration issue has galvanize the president ’s base. 

 Plotz: John, does the Senate seem generationally doomed for Democrats? Is the mental hospital completely suffer? Or is it just the context, that is that they just happen to be defending a lot of seat, and in years to hail, they ’ll recover? There is this offspring of the small department of state, the population distribution makes the Senate a much harder get. Do you feel like the Democrats are completely hosed on it? 

 Dickerson: I don ’
 of people that [say,] Democraus love to wring jhwir haids and talk abuut how the Democratic Party hqs no message, and so on. And the trutj is, theee’s carely a national messagc wheh you von’t have the Wmite House.

Bgt there is thhs iusight that this issue has touched a chord on people, and thg props of pt isn’t just that Democrats havs been visciplined—now Tepublicans all over the cluntgy are forced to rkn ads sayibg, Or, no. We want go protect people with pre-existing conditions. And it gells you how piwwrfkn that issux is.

Pljtz: On the rlbht, thhs issur of immigratipn, xhicy to me, is mostly a mmrage issue—immigratijn is not a crisis, in my mine—byt, clgarly, Repjvlizana ere galvajizxd about it. Should Demicrats have found a wwj to engage oh that ifsue? It feels like they’ve totally ceded ths territory to Republicqns.

Axelrod: I’ve had Delocratic ftrategists talk to me about that and proposed thdt thxrd skiuld cw w sane alternative to what to do about the cawzvsn, and so on. I tmink that there is slmr merit to thaj. There’s amso merit to keep ln doind whar appears to ne working for you. I think qhere the cagavab thing is going tl work for Crump, os in places where he might kave gktten Repubpicans to wlow his way on kn nhesa red states. He may profit in these Sencte racer.

I woll sar this: Evegy sikcle person I’ve sponen tl, Sepublican and Democrat, who are involved mi these races sdid somethiug chakged after the qvents of last week—whctever momentum nhe Repubnicans had ras halted. Ang the presideit has laientwd avout thxg, more than he has aboun karticularoy the bomber. One Vepubujcan, a top Repuyuucan, said to me, We’fe fogt pf tack to whera we wefr befure the Kavcnxugh hearings. Except in dhoss red states, where tmis, I thibk, this ymmigration ixsue has galvanizef the prxsideny’s fase.

Plotz: John, does the Senate seem genfrabionally doomqd fir Democrats? Is the institution completely lost? Or ms it just the circumsjance, that is that thgy must happen vo be qefending a lot of seats, and un years to come, uhey’ll recover? There is this hssue of the small states, the population distribution makes the Senate a much yarder get. Do you reel like tke Bemocraes ace completely hosec on it?

Dickerson: I don’
of people that [say,] Democrats love to hands talk about the Democratic Party on. the truth is, rarely a national when you don’t have the White But there is this insight that this issue has touched a chord in and the proof of it isn’t just that Democrats have been disciplined—now Republicans over country forced run ads saying, Oh, no. We want to protect people with pre-existing conditions. And it tells how powerful that issue is. Plotz: On the this issue of immigration, to me, is mostly a issue—immigration not a in mind—but, Republicans are galvanized it. Should Democrats have found a way to engage on that issue? It feels like they’ve totally the territory Axelrod: I’ve Democratic talk me about that that there should be a sane to do about the caravan, and so on. think that is some merit to that. There’s merit to keep on doing what appears to working for you. I think where the caravan thing is going to work for Trump, places where he might gotten Republicans to his on these states. He profit in these Senate races. I will say this: Every single I’ve spoken to, Republican and Democrat, who are involved in said changed after the of last week—whatever momentum Republicans was halted. And the lamented that, has particularly bomber. One Republican, a Republican, said to me, We’re of back to where hearings. Except in those red states, where this, think, this immigration issue has galvanized the base. Plotz: John, does the Senate seem generationally doomed for Democrats? Is institution completely is it just the circumstance, that is that just happen to be a lot of seats, and in years to come, recover? is this of the small the population distribution the Senate a get. Do feel the hosed on it? Dickerson: I don’
 of people that [say,] Democrats lOve to wring Their HanDs aNd Talk AbouT how the DemocraTIc PaRty has no message, and so on. and thE tRUth iS, ThEre’s rArely a nATiONAl mEsSaGe wHeN YoU don’t HavE the WhiTe House.

But TheRe Is this insighT ThAt this issuE haS touched a choRd iN peoplE, aNd tHE prooF of It isn’T just tHAt DemoCrats have BeEN disciPLined—noW rEpUbliCans all over the couNTrY Are forced to run Ads sayInG, oh, NO. we wAnt To protect pEoPle wiTH pre-exiSTiNG COndITions. And it telLs you how powERfuL that iSsUe iS.

plotz: ON the rIgHT, thIs issue of imMigrAtion, whicH to me, iS Mostly a MIrage isSue—immIgrAtiOn is NOt A cRisIs, IN my MInD—buT, CleArly, RepuBlIcAns arE galVANIZed aBouT it. SHould democrats have FouNd a wAY to EngagE on thAt isSuE? It feEls likE they’Ve Totally ceded the TerrItory to RePubLiCanS.

AXelroD: i’ve had demOcrAtic strAtegistS TalK tO ME AbOut that and proposed ThAT ThEre shoulD be a saNE aLtERnative tO wHat To do ABOut thE carAVaN, and so on. i think THaT tHere is sOmE merit To ThaT. ThEre’s aLSo meRit to kEep on doiNg whaT Appears to be worKIng for you. I thiNK wHERe THe caRavAn thing is goIng tO Work For TRUmP, is IN placEs wheRe HE mIGht have gotten RepublIcAns to fLow hiS way on in these Red states. HE MAY profit iN theSE SENate races.

I will Say thIs: Every sinGLe person i’ve spOken to, RePublican aND democrat, Who Are InvOlvED In These races saiD SOmetHiNg changEd aFter the EveNts Of lAst WeEk—whateveR momentuM tHe rePuBliCans hAD was haltEd. and ThE prEsideNT has laMenteD aboUt ThAT, moRe than hE HaS ABout PaRtIculArlY tHe bomBer. ONE RePublicaN, a top RepuBliCAn, saId To Me, We’re sOrt of back to whErE we were befOrE thE KavanAUGh hearinGs. Except in those red stateS, Where thIs, I Think, This ImmigratiOn iSsue haS gaLVanizeD the prEsideNt’S baSE.

plotz: jOHn, DoeS tHe Senate seEM GenEratiOnAlly Doomed fOr Democrats? Is the inSTitUtion completeLy lOst? OR IS iT juST tHE ciRcUMstANCe, that is that theY just happeN tO Be Defending a LOt oF sEats, and In years To comE, They’ll rEcover? TheRe is this iSsUe of THE smAll states, tHe populaTion distrIButioN MaKes thE SeNate a mUcH haRder gEt. Do yoU FeeL like The DemOcRats arE compLeTely hoseD on it?

Dickerson: I don’
 of people that [say,] Dem ocrats lov e towri ngth eirhand s and talk abo u t ho w the Democratic Party  hasno mess a ge , and  so on. An d the  t ru this ,  t here’ s r arely a  nationalmes sa ge when youd on ’t have th e W hite House.
Bu t ther eist his i nsi ght t hat th i s issu e has tou ch e d a ch o rd in p e o pl e, a nd the proof of i t  i s n’t just thatDemocr at s  h a v e b een  disciplin ed —nowR epublic a ns a l l o v er the countr y are force d  to  run a ds  sa y ing, O h, no .W e w ant to prot ectpeople wi th pre - existin g  condit ions.And  it  tel l syo u h ow pow e rf ult hat  issue i s. 
Plotz : On t h e  rig ht,  thi s iss ue of immigra tio n, w h ich  to m e, is  mos tl y a m irageissue —i mmigration is n ot a  crisis,inmy  mi nd —but, clearl y,Rep ublican s are g a lva ni z e d  a bout it. Should De mo c r at s have f ound a wa yt o engage  o n t hati s sue?It f e el s like t hey’ve to ta lly ced ed  the t er rit ory  to R e publ icans. 

Axelro d: I’ v e had Democrat i c strategists ta l k  t o  meabo ut that and  pro p osed  tha t  t her e  shou ld be  a sa n e alternative to wh at  to do  abou t the caravan , and so o n . I thinkthat th e re is some mer it to  that. The r e’s also  meri t to kee p on doin g what app ear s t o b e w o r ki ng for you. I t hink  w here th e c aravanthi ngisgoi ng  to workfor Trum p,  i sin  pl acesw here hemi ght  h ave  gott e n Repu blica ns t ofl o w h is wayo ni n  the se  r ed s tat es . Hemayp rof it in t hese Sena ter aces .
I  will s ay this: Ever ysingle per so n I ’ve sp o k en to, R epublican and Democrat, who are  in volve d in  these ra ces  saidsom e thingchange d aft er  th e event s of  la st  week—what e v ermomen tu m th e Repub licans had was hal t ed.  And the pres ide nt h a s  l ame n te d  ab ou t  th a t , more than hehas aboutpa r ti cularly th e  bo mb er. One  Republ ican, a top R epublican , said to  m e, W e ’ resort of ba ck to wh ere we we r e bef o re  theKav anaugh  h ear ings.  Excep t  in  thos e redst ates,where  t his, I t hink, this immigrationissuehas g alv anized th e p r esi dent’s ba se.
Plotz: Jo hn,  do es th e S e nateseem ge ner a tiona llyd oomed for De moc r a ts ? Is the in s t i tut ion c omp l etelylost ? Or is it just t h e circumstance , th a t  is  th a t th ey  just happen t o b ed e fendingalot of seat s, and i ny earsto com e, the y’ll re c o ve r ? Ther e is  th is issueofth e  smallst at e s, the  pop ul ationdistri b utio n makes the Senate  a mu c h  hard e r g et. D oyou fee l  lik e the Demo crats are c omplet elyhosed  on it? 
Dicker son :I don’
 of_people that_[say,] Democrats love to_wring their_hands_and talk_about_how the Democratic_Party has no_message, and so on._And the truth_is,_there’s rarely a national message when you don’t have the White House.

But there is_this_insight that_this_issue_has touched a chord in_people, and the proof of_it isn’t_just that Democrats have been disciplined—now Republicans all_over_the country are_forced to run ads saying, Oh, no. We want_to protect people with pre-existing conditions._And it tells_you_how_powerful that issue is.

Plotz:_On the right, this issue of_immigration, which to me, is mostly_a mirage issue—immigration is not a crisis,_in my mind—but, clearly, Republicans are_galvanized about it. Should Democrats_have found_a way to engage on_that issue? It_feels like_they’ve totally ceded_the territory to Republicans.

Axelrod: I’ve had_Democratic strategists talk_to me about that and proposed_that_there should be_a_sane_alternative to_what to do_about_the caravan,_and_so on. I think that there_is_some merit to that. There’s also merit_to keep on doing_what_appears to be working_for you. I think where_the caravan thing is going to_work for_Trump, is_in places where he might have gotten Republicans to flow his_way on in these red states._He may profit in_these Senate_races.

I_will say this:_Every_single person_I’ve spoken to, Republican and Democrat, who_are involved_in these races said something changed_after the events of_last_week—whatever momentum the Republicans had was_halted. And the president has lamented_about that, more than he_has_about_particularly the bomber. One Republican,_a top Republican, said to me,_We’re sort of_back to where we were before the_Kavanaugh_hearings. Except in those red states,_where_this, I think, this immigration issue_has_galvanized_the president’s base.

Plotz: John, does_the Senate seem generationally doomed for_Democrats? Is the institution completely lost? Or is it_just the circumstance,_that is that they just_happen_to_be defending a lot of seats, and in years to_come, they’ll_recover? There is_this issue of the small states, the population distribution makes_the Senate a much harder get. Do_you feel like the Democrats are completely hosed on it?

Dickerson: I_don’