Running Against the Devil: A Plot to Save America from Trump--and Democrats from Themselves

by Rick Wilson

targeted attacks on the three softest points in Trump’s psyche. First, he’s not rich. He’s poor. He’s—to use the famous words of my hedge-fund friend—“a clown, living on credit.” The billionaire image was a powerful marker for 2016 voters, but the pettiness and greed of his campaign to monetize his presidency is a great vector for attacks. Remind him that eventually we’ll know everything about the serial business failures in his hidden tax returns. The truth about his finances won’t move many in his base, but taunting him on it is known to make him lose his mind in spasms of tweeted defensiveness. Second, his self-image is that he’s handsome, sexy, and athletic. (Try not to laugh.) Trump’s obvious obesity, sloth, and indolent lifestyle are hanging off him in rolls. Call it out. Tell him he’s not physically well enough to hold the office. Hit him hard on his creeping dementia: “Donald, you’ve lost a step. It’s sad and I’m sure your family is concerned. I know you don’t have a real doctor, but we’re worried about you.” One wag suggested to me that the Democratic nominee should insist on a weigh-in before the debates. I’ll max out to the Democrat who takes a scale onstage and dares Donald to step onto it. “What’s the matter, Donald? Is the IRS auditing that big ol’ belly?” This is a dogfight, and unless America sees “some fight in the dog,” as we say down south, Donald Trump will walk all over you. When you start hitting, don’t let up.