The most consequential election last week occurred in New York City. A competent and talented Democratic Socialist, a fresh face, won the mayor's office over a tired and disgraced retread from that state's Democratic Cuomo dynasty.

Democrats are at risk of getting the wrong message, which would be that moving leftward toward socialist economic ideas gives them an effective new energy and connection. But it's the other thing, the fresh face taking over for an old dynastic face, that is more the asset than socialist policy.

Republicans are at absolutely no risk of getting the wrong message, which is tried and true. It is to knock the hell out of the ball teed up for them. The message is that Democrats are loonier and scarier than ever.

Democrats are often inept because they are forced to try difficult parlays -- in this case combining in a single party and electoral strategy a Muslim/socialist in New York pushing government grocery stores and free buses with a dexterous Baptist or Methodist in swing states such as Georgia or Arizona trying to make a connection by pretending to shop in a Dollar Tree.

Republicans are often successful because the assignment is basic:........

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