Five themes Democrats can focus on to boost their standing

Defeatism abounds in Democratic circles these days.

Many Democrats are down in the dumps about President Biden’s poll numbers, fretful about inflation, convinced the House majority is already lost, certain that voting-rights legislation will not get through and, most recently, despondent about the prospect of right-wing partisans at the Supreme Court snatching away the right of women to control their own lives. More sober Democrats realize they have missed the boat in organizing and developing political talent at the local and state level, leaving them at a disadvantage on everything from school board fights to redistricting.