“Politicians sometimes forget that, once elected, they are expected to serve all the people, not just their narrow base of fanatical partisans. In that regard, their public statements are very important because they give a clue to what type of public servant the candidates will become once in power. Also, a candidate can easily self-destruct if he or she forgets that, when talking to partisans, the entire electorate is listening. Strong general statements, good or bad, remain in people’s consciousness when time comes to vote.”
