@RM_Patterson

Comms and stuff. Reluctant Substacker. Former Spox for @WhiteHouse46, @SpeakerPelosi, @Commerce46 @DCCC, @BetoORourke

onbackground1.substack.com/
Joined February 2016
  • Tweets19.6K
  • Following1.5K
  • Followers6.8K
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I’m launching a substack on how Dems fix our communications problems. Quick interviews with smart communicators across our party on what’s working, what isn’t, and what comes next. Hope you’ll read the first edition and my convo with @AndrewBatesNC. open.substack.com/pub/onback…
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.@MikeRogersForMI is desperately trying to distract voters from rising gas and health care costs. Unfortunately for him, it’s not working. cbsnews.com/video/republican…
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Robyn Patterson retweeted
Mike Nellis
@MikeNellisOct 19
If you're not feeding your oppo to creators, then you're way behind the curve IMHO Most of the major stories shaping the midterms have originated from creators
Robyn Patterson
@RM_PattersonOct 19
The decision to pitch oppo to influencers may help take down a Republican Congressman in a must-win House race. h/t @patdennis onbackgroundcomms.com/p/on-b…
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Robyn Patterson retweeted
Max Steele@maxasteeleOct 19
The sweetest feeling in all of political comms is a reporter not taking a pitch and then later being boxed into writing it because you've engineered events to force their hand, like giving oppo to an influencer that then goes viral.
Robyn Patterson
@RM_PattersonOct 19
The decision to pitch oppo to influencers may help take down a Republican Congressman in a must-win House race. h/t @patdennis onbackgroundcomms.com/p/on-b…
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Focus on the tangible! Smart take from @patdennis on connecting abstract themes like “democracy” and “corruption” to the real world cost and safety issues that actually move votes. onbackgroundcomms.com/p/on-b…
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The decision to pitch oppo to influencers may help take down a Republican Congressman in a must-win House race. h/t @patdennis onbackgroundcomms.com/p/on-b…
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Robyn Patterson retweeted
Nick Field@nick_field90Oct 18
After all that, Dems lead by nine on transgender issues xitter.cf/PollTracker2024/status…
Politics & Poll Tracker 📡
@PollTracker2024Oct 18
ABC/Ipsos/WaPo poll | 10/9-10/13 LV Which political party do you trust to do a better job handling each of the following? (Net) 🟦 Healthcare: D+23
🟦 Education and schools: D+14
🟦 Cost of living: D+14
🟦 Inflation: D+14
🟦 Iran: D+11
🟦 Transgender issues: D+9
🟦 Economy: D+9
🟦 Reducing government corruption: D+9
🟦 Taxes: D+7
🟦 Israel and Gaza: D+7
🟦 Immigration: D+2 ——
🟥 Crime: R+5
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Will never cease to be amazed by people who look at what Trump world does to its own and decide “it’ll work out differently for me”.
Aaron Rupar
@atruparOct 16
ZACHARIA IS ON THE WAY OUT ALREADY 👇 Q: Would you have liked to have known that Katie Zacharia didn't pass the bar? TRUMP: Katie has been treated very badly by the media. Very very badly. Very unfair. I just asked her, is this for you? And she's a nice person. I'm going to let her make that decision. Sean Hannity was a little bit tough. Katie is off to a start that, the news has been so nasty to her. I told her, 'Honestly, if I were you, I would reconsider.' Maybe it's not for her
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Robyn Patterson retweeted
Aaron Rupar
@atruparOct 15
Q: Can you name a time when you voted against your party and President Trump and it changed the outcome? SUSAN COLLINS: At one point, I had organized people to vote against Secretary Hegseth. As you undoubtedly have read, at the very last minute one of our Republicans changed his mind. Otherwise he would've been defeated for that job. Q: So it didn't change the outcome
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I feel kind of bad for them at this point
Erin Doherty@erinpdohertyOct 14
Statement from Whatley spox: "It’s a temporary pause and we’ll be back on the air shortly with our closing message that may or may not ask voters why does our elderly opponent refuse to answer basic questions about his health and ability to serve in the US Senate." (1/2)
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I’m just glad Mike Collins isn’t alive to see these clips
Acyn
@AcynOct 14
Ossoff: How weak a person do you have to be to be unable to stop someone under your own roof from disseminating neo-Nazi propaganda while you run for the Senate? Can you commit for just 3 weeks to stop the production of neo-Nazi propaganda from your home?
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Robyn Patterson retweeted
Courtney Rice@Court_RiceOct 13
Anytime @RM_Patterson asks, I answer. Loved getting to talk (House) shop with one of my favorite friends and former colleagues!
Robyn Patterson
@RM_PattersonOct 13
Good insight from @Court_Rice on the races she and the DCCC will be watching closely for early clues on election night open.substack.com/pub/onback…
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Good insight from @Court_Rice on the races she and the DCCC will be watching closely for early clues on election night open.substack.com/pub/onback…
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"In previous cycles, you’d see Democrats up and down the ballot operating under the belief that they shouldn’t give these attacks any more oxygen by refuting them. It didn’t work." h/t @Court_Rice onbackgroundcomms.com/p/on-b…
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Robyn Patterson retweeted
Gillian Branstetter@GBBranstetterOct 11
If you ask a pretty broad range of people in Dem messaging research how to respond to anti-trans attacks - from Third Way to Sarah Longwell to HRC to DSA to Fight - they'll all suggest some version of the below. So why are so few listening?
Sarah McBride
@SarahEMcBrideOct 11
Republican politicians continue to target the most vulnerable 1% in the hopes that we won’t notice that they are lining the pockets of the wealthiest 1%. But the American people are seeing through it and they are ready for change.
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Robyn Patterson retweeted
Dory MacMillan@dory_macmillanOct 10
I have done four cycles in NC - congressional, senate, gov, presidential- races here are close. The magnificent Roy Cooper is in a strong position but we’ve got to keep our foot on the gas…
Erin Doherty@erinpdohertyOct 10
Scoop: As Dems shift their focus away from NC’s Senate race, David Plouffe, who managed Obama’s narrow 2008 victory in the state, is urging donors not to grow complacent. “We have to win the ones we have to win,” he said in audio obtained by POLITICO. politico.com/news/2026/10/10…

David Plouffe warns Dems: Don’t take North Carolina for granted

politico.com
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Farmers are pissed about the war in Iran and tariffs. Nice to see @UnrigOurEconomy making a real play for them in Iowa.
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Robyn Patterson retweeted
Dan Merica@mericaOct 6
This quote from a voter who previously backed Collins will stick with you: “It’s not even anti-Susan Collins; it’s anti-Trump. … I like Susan Collins. … But God could be running as a Republican and I would vote against him or her.” Why? “Trump.” washingtonpost.com/politics/…

Susan Collins, a political survivor, tries to outrun Trump

In her bid for a sixth term representing Maine, Susan Collins has been beset by President Donald Trump weighing her down with constant controversy.

washingtonpost.com
Dan Merica@mericaOct 6
Maine voters are angry at Donald Trump. Just ask Susan Collins, who told me that he is an "unpopular president" whose "numbers in Maine are terrible." Yet Trump is everywhere in her reelection, pushing Collins into her toughest test yet. From Bucksport: washingtonpost.com/politics/…

Susan Collins, a political survivor, tries to outrun Trump

In her bid for a sixth term representing Maine, Susan Collins has been beset by President Donald Trump weighing her down with constant controversy.

washingtonpost.com
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Robyn Patterson retweeted
Third Way
@ThirdWayTweetOct 5
🫶 @LanaeErickson describes @ThirdWayTweet's approach to divisive social issues. We work to help Dems win in red and purple places AND persuade voters to move toward the America we want to live in. She's been leading that work on transgender policy over the past 4 years and conducted over 40 rounds of research.
Robyn Patterson
@RM_PattersonOct 5
Didn’t know this about @ThirdWayTweet’s work on trans issues @LanaeErickson onbackground1.substack.com/p…
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Robyn Patterson retweeted
Sarah Longwell
@SarahLongwell25Oct 6
I think @LanaeErickson is doing some of the best/most interesting political research and messaging work around trans issues and public opinion.
Ari Drennen
@AriDrennenOct 6
1/ Third Way has run more than 40 rounds of research on how Democrats should answer anti-trans attack ads. One finding: talking about rules for sports tests better by double digits than "don't let boys play girls' sports."
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Robyn Patterson retweeted
Ari Drennen
@AriDrennenOct 6
1/ Third Way has run more than 40 rounds of research on how Democrats should answer anti-trans attack ads. One finding: talking about rules for sports tests better by double digits than "don't let boys play girls' sports."
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