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Axios Reporter: The DNC Brand Is a 'Disaster'

August 21, 2017

Axios journalist Jonathan Swan on Monday called the the Democratic National Committee's brand "a disaster," and said when it comes to the future of the party, Democrats need to "figure it out."

Swan joined MSNBC's "Morning Joe" during a discussion on Democrats' misguided assumptions about expanding their support, and the Democratic Party's over-reliance on minority voters.

Host Joe Scarborough first commented on how Democrats are assuming too much when it comes to the loyalty of Hispanic voters.

"By the way, that's a miscalculation when the Democrats say we're going to have a permissive policy on illegal immigration, crudely believing this is going to make all Hispanics vote for us," Scarborough said.

Scarborough added that no Democrats have "broken through as someone who is a warrior against Donald Trump in a way that will inspire them to open their checkbooks," referencing the DNC's dismal July fundraising numbers.

"Jonathan, what are Democrats on the Hill saying? How are they going to turn this around?" Scarborough asked.

"Well, I think one of the biggest problems is the DNC brand is a disaster. I mean, the party brand has been so wrecked over the last year," Swan said.

Swan explained that the WikiLeaks hack, and the lack of connection to its base, are major factors contributing to the DNC's weakness.

"WikiLeaks has played into that, and what you hear when you talk to people on the Hill is all the energy is outside of the party" Swan said. "It's kind of diffused; groups like Indivisible and 'resist' rallies. There's a whole lot of energy out there, and Mark's right, a lot of it channeled into the [Jon] Ossoff race. But that was a very disappointing result, and they're still looking for a direction. There's still no clear direction for the party."

"You're hearing such different figures for 2020. A [Sen.] Cory Booker [D., N.J.] presidency would be very different from a [Sen.] Liz Warren [D., Mass.] presidency, and the party needs to figure it out," he concluded.