--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think that what is always true when you…" description: "\"I think that what is always true when you run against an incumbent president is, is that you end up talking more about that president's record than you..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a56/barack-obama-17_agendas_i-think-that-what-is-always-true-when-yo_2459716.jpg" --- # I think that what is always true when you run against an… ![“I think that what is always true when you run against an incumbent president is, is that you end up talking more about that president's record than your vision for the future, and I think that the Democrats do have to present a proactive agenda and vision for the country and not simply run against…” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a56/barack-obama-17_agendas_i-think-that-what-is-always-true-when-yo_2459716.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a56/barack-obama-17_agendas_i-think-that-what-is-always-true-when-yo_2459716.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a56/barack-obama-17_agendas_i-think-that-what-is-always-true-when-yo_2459716.jpg) > “I think that what is always true when you run against an incumbent president is, is that you end up talking more about that president's record than your vision for the future, and I think that the Democrats do have to present a proactive agenda and vision for the country and not simply run against something if they're going to be successful.” [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Running against an incumbent forces candidates to focus on the opponent’s record rather than their own vision, urging Democrats to present a proactive agenda. **In simple terms:** Opponents dominate the narrative, limiting forward‑looking proposals. Key Takeaway Craft a clear, forward‑looking platform regardless of opponent. Themes politics campaign strategy leadership Mood inspirational strategic Type political motivational When to use this quote - elections - policy debates - media coverage Key Concepts agenda setting public persuasion Questions to Reflect On - How can a campaign stay future‑focused? - What messages resonate most with voters? A Different Perspective Focusing on the opponent can alienate voters seeking new ideas. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Agendas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agendas/) [Being successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-successful/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Democrat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democrat/) [Democrats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democrats/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Vision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vision/) [Vision For The Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vision-for-the-future/) ## Related quotes > [The Minnesota Republican hierarchy didn't want me to run against their incumbent in 2000; they didn't know who I was. And once many party…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-bachmann/the-minnesota-republican-hierarchy-didn-t-want-me-to-run-against/) [Michele Bachmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-bachmann/) > [The President? Hmmm, I wonder who that might be? Could it be, perhaps, the sitting two-term incumbent of the same party holding its convention?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-fallows/the-president-hmmm-i-wonder-who-that-might-be-could-it-be-perhaps-the/) [James Fallows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-fallows/) > [Whatever you're selling, storage or networking or security, you're going head to head with the incumbent players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/whatever-you-re-selling-storage-or-networking-or-security-you-re/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is incumbent upon every person of every description to contribute to his country's welfare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/it-is-incumbent-upon-every-person-of-every-description-to-contribute/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [It's just a lot safer to be an incumbent. So I think they have used the campaign finance reforms. They have passed laws that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/it-s-just-a-lot-safer-to-be-an-incumbent-so-i-think-they-have-used/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [You intentionally start small, because you will not be able to compete with an incumbent... because the incumbent is always going to go for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-levie/you-intentionally-start-small-because-you-will-not-be-able-to-compete/) [Aaron Levie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-levie/) > [In 2004, I ran for Congress and lost. In 2006, I ran again and won - defeating Richard Pombo, a seven-term Republican incumbent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-mcnerney/in-2004-i-ran-for-congress-and-lost-in-2006-i-ran-again-and-won/) [Jerry McNerney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-mcnerney/) > [If you're running far behind in the polls and you decide to use comparative advertising, you have to be able to explain to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ailes/if-you-re-running-far-behind-in-the-polls-and-you-decide-to-use/) [Roger Ailes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ailes/) > [ I think the whole dynamic is different. Whereas in \[Barack\] Obama's case, even though there was no incumbent, he was able to run against… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kristol/i-think-the-whole-dynamic-is-different-whereas-in-barack-obama-s-case/) [William Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kristol/) > [I think we are incumbent, I am incumbent, the Who is incumbent, anybody that produces anything by me is incumbent by my Englishness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-townshend/i-think-we-are-incumbent-i-am-incumbent-the-who-is-incumbent-anybody/) [Pete Townshend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-townshend/) > [Listen, Al Gore is a very tough opponent. He is the incumbent. He represents the incumbency. And a challenger is somebody who generally comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/listen-al-gore-is-a-very-tough-opponent-he-is-the-incumbent-he/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [I think it's incumbent on actresses to bring something else to the part which isn't in the script.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natascha-mcelhone/i-think-it-s-incumbent-on-actresses-to-bring-something-else-to-the/) [Natascha McElhone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natascha-mcelhone/) > [I think that sometimes the Democrats have to run upstream or swim upstream because we've got the Republicans making it out as if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-think-that-sometimes-the-democrats-have-to-run-upstream-or-swim/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I don't think the Democrats should think in narrow tactical terms about mid-term elections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-don-t-think-the-democrats-should-think-in-narrow-tactical-terms/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I think that the Democrats can be successful nationally in the future if we are able to capture some of the complexity of people's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-think-that-the-democrats-can-be-successful-nationally-in-the-future/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## More by Barack Obama > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [As opposed to getting into arguments about, well, these folks have been treated fairly so now we're going to be doing things that, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/as-opposed-to-getting-into-arguments-about-well-these-folks-have-been/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Donald Trump is temperamentally unfit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/donald-trump-is-temperamentally-unfit/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [What we've said to the girls is: 'If you guys ever decide that you're going to get a tattoo, then mommy and me will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-we-ve-said-to-the-girls-is-if-you-guys-ever-decide-that-you-re/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Nobody is listening to your telephone calls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/nobody-is-listening-to-your-telephone-calls/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [All of us take offense to anyone who reaps the rewards of living in America without taking on the responsibilities of living in America.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/all-of-us-take-offense-to-anyone-who-reaps-the-rewards-of-living-in/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The world is complicated and full of grays, but there's still truth there to be found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-world-is-complicated-and-full-of-grays-but-there-s-still-truth/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ That is another theme in the book \[Dreams from My Father\]. How do we exercise more empathy in our public discourse? How do we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/that-is-another-theme-in-the-book-dreams-from-my-father-how-do-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I can say across Europe that many principles that have been taken for granted here around free speech, and around civil liberties and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-can-say-across-europe-that-many-principles-that-have-been-taken-for/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-americans-understand-the-costs-of-war-yet-as-a-country-we-will/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I want to thank the Greek people publicly for their humanitarian response to the crisis of so many migrants and refugees seeking safety in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-want-to-thank-the-greek-people-publicly-for-their-humanitarian/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We had a farewell dinner for some of my senior staff, and generally everybody likes to talk about how cool I was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-had-a-farewell-dinner-for-some-of-my-senior-staff-and-generally/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ It's good to get fresh legs in \[the White house\]. I think that it refreshes our democracy. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/it-s-good-to-get-fresh-legs-in-the-white-house-i-think-that-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Believe it or not, entertainment is part of our American diplomacy, it is part of what makes us exceptional, part of what makes us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/believe-it-or-not-entertainment-is-part-of-our-american-diplomacy-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) [Explore all 3,624 Barack Obama quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## More Agendas quotes > [There's a dishonest tyranny in the liberal/progressive/socialist agenda that comes down and says 'we are here because we care about you; we want what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/there-s-a-dishonest-tyranny-in-the-liberal-progressive-socialist/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) > [There could be no more powerful argument against mixing religion and government than the success of independent African American churches in placing racial segregation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/there-could-be-no-more-powerful-argument-against-mixing-religion-and/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) > [At home we didnt talk about religion. So gradually the question faded away by itself and disappeared from the agenda. When I was nineteen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-prokofiev/at-home-we-didnt-talk-about-religion-so-gradually-the-question-faded/) [Sergei Prokofiev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-prokofiev/) > [We have Internet now and people are not stupid. But it seems that some people are trying to push the same agenda of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bassem-youssef/we-have-internet-now-and-people-are-not-stupid-but-it-seems-that-some/) [Bassem Youssef](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bassem-youssef/) > [The next thing you do today will be the most important thing on your agenda, because, after all, you're doing it next. Well, perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-next-thing-you-do-today-will-be-the-most-important-thing-on-your/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [In our system of government, the judicial and legislative branches have different roles. Judges are not politicians. Judges must decide cases, not champion causes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-hatch/in-our-system-of-government-the-judicial-and-legislative-branches/) [Orrin Hatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-hatch/) > [It's when someone has an agenda of their own for the record that it doesn't work for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/it-s-when-someone-has-an-agenda-of-their-own-for-the-record-that-it/) [Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/) > [The problem with merely writing so that you can be understood is that the wrong people, in advancing their agendas, are only too ready…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-a-dembski/the-problem-with-merely-writing-so-that-you-can-be-understood-is-that/) [William A. 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