Democrats are surely in for a "white-knuckled" ride in the November elections, but it doesn't have to be the doomsday everyone's predicting, writes David Plouffe. Obama's former campaign manager lays out his advice in a Washington Post op-ed, with "no bed-wetting" among his suggestions. "Instead of fearing what may happen, let's prove that we have more than just the brains to govern—that we have the guts to govern. Let's fight like hell."
Plouffe thinks passing health care is a must, because it's the only way to prove that Republicans are wrong about it. "Politically speaking, if we do not pass it, the GOP will continue attacking the plan as if we did anyway." Candidates also shouldn't sit still for lectures on spending—"the GOP took us from a $236 billion surplus when President Bush took office to a $1.3 trillion deficit." And if Republicans complain about how "wasteful" the recovery act is, trot out some firefighters and teachers who are still working as a result. (More Democrats stories.)