Seems like one path for Democrats would be to pick a simple "one issue" that isn't simply against what Republicans are doing. Anti-abortion works for Republicans because it's simple and advocates believe the have a clear moral high ground. Every Republican candidate treats abortion as a simple issue with a clear moral high ground. Republicans don't even really disagree about the issue among themselves. They're in lockstep. And that disguises the fact that abortion has a complicated legal history. Most Americans are pro-choice even if they (say they) wouldn't have an abortion themselves. And that also disguises the fact that a Republican SCOTUS ushered in Roe v. Wade and almost 50 years of Republicans courts since haven't repealed it. Republican just keep chipping away at the edges of abortion to keep the fight going.
Democrats should go hard on $15 miminum wage, pro-legalization, and universal health care. They need to make those issues simple and be unified. One simple message. None of this "well actually, if you adjust for inflation, it should be close to $19.50" or trying to compromise with just medical. And for goodness sake, Democrats, if every other "first world" country can have different forms of universal health care, there's no reason why we absolutely have to have one specific version of Medicare For All. Stop fighting within the party and come up with a unified message that people can understand.
One thing is clear. The Democratic Party brand has some major problems across the board. The best way to address that is rebranding around popular policies and sticking with them. And yes, personality matters as well.
