@blatham,
blatham wrote:
We know that the right is betting on a negative response from their "Socialism!" alarums. But they really don't have any choice. They aren't going to be making electoral gains with non-base voters. So demonization and fear-mongering (aside from the constant lies) are what's left for them.
An entirely equivalent statement could be made about "the Left" with respect to its main issues and their likely appeal to "non base" voters. Lies, fear mongering and demonization are arguably far more characteristic of Democrat political rhetoric than that of Republicans.
Democrats also face the as yet uncertain issues that may arise from the difference between the rather extreme rhetoric of AOC and Bernie Sanders (which is getting so much interest & attention in the media and among its supporters - a likely continuation of the Bernie phenomenon of the last Primary) and the more centrist political platform slowly unfolding from Pelosi and other Party leaders.
AOC & Sanders naturally excite a lot of reaction among more conservative politicians. However, I believe it is sufficient for them to merely point out the illogic and infeasibility of their main proposals, and let their looney character sink in with the public, and particularly with the "non base" voters to whom you referred.
Buying in too deeply to one's own propaganda is a common error.