The Right Pitch

Aside from the realizations that Senator Cory Booker is a rather unimpressive public speaker while Eva Longoria is a surprisingly good one, here are my main takeaways from the 2016 Democratic National Convention's opening night keynote speeches:

• Elizabeth Warren wants voters to believe Hillary Clinton is the right choice because she's the anti-Trump choice; however, many just believe that she's a different, but (almost) equally bad choice.
• Bernie Sanders wants his supporters to believe Hillary Clinton appreciates their shared values, while many just believe that the only thing she appreciates is an invaluable opportunity to assume a well-deserved spot at the top of the political food chain.
• Michelle Obama wants voters to see a softer, more humane side of Hillary Clinton, by casting her as a high-minded altruist with an unfaltering commitment to public service; in contrast, many just see her as an unapologetic elitist with an unwavering sense of entitlement.

While I doubt the senators and first lady genuinely expected everyone in the audience to buy their Clinton-infused snake oil, they—like their GOP counterparts—were probably reassured by the knowledge that most people will buy anything after hearing the right pitch.