Gillibrand’s Missed Opportunity
I’m a constituent of Senator Gillibrand’s and quite like her. We grew up in similar areas in New York State and I have watched her closely as her career in politics has morphed. I like Gillibrand so much, that when she announced her run for President, I thought she would be a perfect contender to run against Trump and could win.
I thought her biggest hurdle would be convincing the progressive left that she was far enough to the left.
Boy was I wrong. Gillibrand had a host of missed opportunities for her Presidential run and I fear she may have missed her shot for moving forward. Let’s take a look where she went wrong, shall we?
Her Appeal to Middle America
In my opinion, this was her biggest misstep. Gillibrand has the unique background of being from Central New York, an area that is more like Iowa or the hills of North Carolina than the upscale diverse neighborhoods of Westchester.
As far as missed opportunities go, Gillibrand should have framed herself as The Best of Both Worlds. She knows how to appeal to the coastal elites, but is a down home girl with a previous A-rating from the NRA. Does this hurt her for many of us uber liberals?
Furthermore, playing up her background as a woman from a rural area in New York would have been a HUGE help n appealing to farmers, steel workers, and communities ravaged by the opioid crisis. While yes, you can say that Mayor Pete has this area covered, Kirsten is far more seasoned. She’s a Senator that worked her way up in an area that does not take kindly to Democrats.
This alone as her platform, she should have been playing at 3% at least.
She’s a Working Mom
Say what you will about this being a moot point, but this is a big one, and I’m not even a mother. I watch my friends struggle to maintain their careers and marriages while being a good mother and it is rough. Gillibrand gets this. In fact, her campaign slogan could have been, “I Get It” and it would have been a great hook.
Being a working mom and her background before she entered the world of politics would appeal to both college and non-college educated white female voters, key demographics for beating Trump next November.
The Ghost of Al Franken
Now, will all of this said, a lot of Dems haven’t forgiven Gillibrand for the fiasco that was former Senator Franken. It’s a double edged sword that she sadly handled all wrong. I don’t know what her comms team was thinking on this one, but they should have done it differently.
First, she should have come out more strongly at the beginning of the campaign to talk about the nuances of the #MeToo movement, and how she had a tough decision to make. This would transition seamlessly into a conversation about sexual assault and her plans for reform.
She also should have admitted she made missteps, and invited Franken to a campaign event, or a roundtable for a discussion. I think this could have erased the bad taste many have for Gillibrand
Healthcare
Oh geez, I could go on for a while on this but I’ll keep it short. Senator Gillibrand was unable to say anything memorable in terms of healthcare…well, anything that was positive and memorable. That was unfortunate.
People with Disabilities
Gillibrand was the FIRST candidate to say she would have a member of the disability community in her cabinet, yet this somehow got lost in the shuffle. Why? Because honestly, it seemed like lipservice and not a real call-to-action or something that can be tested from now. What she should have done, is focus about how during her time in politics, she has already built a diverse staff that includes individuals with disabilities so she can make good decisions that will impact all Americans at some point in their lives. Now, I have no clue if this statement about her staff is true, but honestly, if she hasn’t already made this a priority in her career, why should anyone believe she’ll do it moving forward?
I could probably go on for another 20 minutes, but I think it’s clear: Gillibrand had all she needed in who she is, where she comes from, and what she’s fought for to make a name for herself in this crowded Dem pack. But she failed to focus and didn’t have a team that would give her a winning strategy.
If I’m still a New York resident come 2020, I’d proudly vote for again. I don’t agree with all her policies, but it’s nice to have a Senator that represents the Manhattan-working person I’ve become along with my Utica roots.
