TOTAL BS!
California Democrats are taking an unconventional approach to the final weeks of the governor’s race, unveiling a campaign strategy designed to eliminate the single greatest threat to frontrunner Xavier Becerra’s election prospects: Xavier Becerra speaking.
The former Biden administration Health and Human Services secretary has maintained a remarkably low profile while Republican opponent Steve Hilton crisscrosses the state, gives interviews and makes specific campaign promises.
Becerra has largely avoided all three activities.
With polls showing the Democrat comfortably ahead, party strategists have reportedly formalized the approach into a new campaign initiative called Operation Do No Harm, which calls for eliminating all unscripted public remarks until Election Day.
Under the plan, Becerra will attend carefully selected campaign events but will not be required to speak, answer questions or make eye contact with undecided voters.
A new campaign advertisement will feature Becerra standing silently against a California sunset while a narrator assures voters that he remains fully committed to whatever issues matter most to them.
The campaign has also developed a comprehensive policy platform consisting of four words: “We’re working on it.”
Hilton, who has repeatedly challenged Becerra to additional debates, responded by offering to debate an empty chair. Democratic strategists immediately rejected the proposal, warning that the chair might accidentally reveal a policy position.
Party officials are reportedly considering extending the strategy into Becerra’s first term, should he win.
One proposal would allow the governor to communicate exclusively through preapproved nods, while another would authorize Gavin Newsom to continue answering questions on his behalf.
Aides insist the approach represents a historic breakthrough in American politics.
“Why risk disappointing voters with your actual positions,” one strategist explained, “when you can let everybody imagine they agree with you?”
TOTAL BS is SATIRE. The news is real. The TOTAL BS is intentional. For the real BS read this — San Francisco Chronicle — Becerra and Hilton’s wildly different campaign strategies
