Democrats need to simplify their campaign messages...

[allegorical oracle]

2. To your point, I would add that it wouldn't hurt for candidates to pay attention to

rural areas in their districts. As a rural resident, we never see Democrat candidates. Guess they have ceded the territory to Repugs. Would help if Dems recognize and work to elect more state-level candidates. State legislatures are killing many state governments (i.e., LA, FL, TN, GA)

My mailbox is crammed with Repug brochures brimming with lies about Dems, but there's nobody refuting those attacks. Most folks in rural areas are watching TV via satellite, which doesn't necessarily carry local programming unless viewers subscribe to it. Thus, political ads are limited to statewide or national candidates.

That's how we end up with Repug legislatures who are virtually unknown and elected by the R or D after their names.