DEMS/ELECTION/OBAMA/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “Stirred by fears that Democrats might fail to patch together the broad coalition necessary to defeat Donald Trump next year, the late stages of the Democratic primary have taken an abrupt turn. Suddenly, a contest that has been largely defined by ideology is being re-framed around questions of race and identity. The campaign’s transition to a more overt confrontation of race is no accident. It is purposeful and unfolding, according to aides in a handful of campaigns, as a still large field of contenders grows increasingly desperate to shake up the top tier — and also to carve out lanes that will take them through the early-state gauntlet. The shift crystallized during last week’s debate as Democrats descended on the majority-black city of Atlanta and fanned out afterward in campaign appearances designed to connect with African-American audiences.”
–David Siders, Christopher Cadelago and Laura Barron-Lopez, “To defeat Trump, Dems rethink the Obama coalition formula,” Politico, November 25, 2019 5:18 am