Why Hillary Clinton's milquetoast message is enough for victory

If you think the country is on the wrong track, you're open to change — but not if the next track over has a burning tanker full of toxic waste on it

The different beliefs between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump will help Clinton stand out.
(Image credit: Jessica Kourkounis/Getty Images)

The Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia is just getting underway, and it promises few of the rhetorical fireworks we saw in Cleveland. There will be no equivalent to Rudy Giuliani screaming and scowling, no angry boos for a second-place finisher refusing to endorse the victor, no litany of shouted horrors from a nominee determined to convince voters they might meet a fiery death at any moment unless they vote the right way.

Though no one will put it this way, the fundamental Democratic message about the state of America is this: Things are pretty good. Maybe not great, but not so terrible, either. It's not what you'd put on a bumper sticker and it won't be the inspiration for any cringe-worthy country songs. But is it enough?

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Paul Waldman

Paul Waldman is a senior writer with The American Prospect magazine and a blogger for The Washington Post. His writing has appeared in dozens of newspapers, magazines, and web sites, and he is the author or co-author of four books on media and politics.