--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And when you start talking about the…" description: "\"And when you start talking about the practicality of winning a race like that - you've got to remember we're not talking about winning 51 percent of th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aff/hamilton-jordan-23690_about_and-when-you-start-talking-about-the-pra_2906074.png" --- # And when you start talking about the practicality of… ![“And when you start talking about the practicality of winning a race like that - you've got to remember we're not talking about winning 51 percent of the vote. We're talking about winning 36, 37, 38 percent of the vote.” quote by Hamilton Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aff/hamilton-jordan-23690_about_and-when-you-start-talking-about-the-pra_2906074.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aff/hamilton-jordan-23690_about_and-when-you-start-talking-about-the-pra_2906074.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aff/hamilton-jordan-23690_about_and-when-you-start-talking-about-the-pra_2906074.png) > “And when you start talking about the practicality of winning a race like that - you've got to remember we're not talking about winning 51 percent of the vote. We're talking about winning 36, 37, 38 percent of the vote.” [Hamilton Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamilton-jordan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Winning a race requires a plurality, not a majority; small vote differences matter. **In simple terms:** Winning needs less than half the votes. Key Takeaway Target key voter segments strategically. Themes politics election strategy Mood strategic analytical Type political instructional When to use this quote - campaign planning - targeted outreach - debate prep Key Concepts plurality vote distribution Questions to Reflect On - What groups are essential for a 36‑38% win? - How to balance narrow targeting with inclusive messaging? A Different Perspective Focusing on plurality may ignore broader consensus building. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [51 Percent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/51-percent-1909461/) [About](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Got](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/got/) [Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like/) [Not talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/not-talking/) [Percent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/percent/) [Percent Vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/percent-vote-944024/) [Practicality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practicality/) [Practicality Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practicality-winning-4158581/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember/) [Start](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/start/) [Talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking/) [Vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vote/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) [Winning Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning-race-603030/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) ## Related quotes > [We don't want someone who will get 98 percent of the vote. We want someone who will get 51 percent of the vote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/we-don-t-want-someone-who-will-get-98-percent-of-the-vote-we-want/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [If you do it right 51 percent of the time you will end up a hero.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-p-sloan/if-you-do-it-right-51-percent-of-the-time-you-will-end-up-a-hero/) [Alfred P. Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-p-sloan/) > [“According to the law professor Richard Sander, more than half of all African-American law students in the United States—51.6 percent—are in the bottom 10…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/according-to-the-law-professor-richard-sander-more-than-half-of-all/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [According to Teenage Research Unlimited, 51 percent of 13-15 year olds say they will be faced with making a decision regarding alcohol in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xavier-becerra/according-to-teenage-research-unlimited-51-percent-of-13-15-year-olds/) [Xavier Becerra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xavier-becerra/) > [A telephone survey says that 51 percent of college students drink until they pass out at least once a month. The other 49 percent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-kilborn/a-telephone-survey-says-that-51-percent-of-college-students-drink/) [Craig Kilborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-kilborn/) > [I played 51 percent of the snaps outside, though. But you can go ahead and call me a slot as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-edelman/i-played-51-percent-of-the-snaps-outside-though-but-you-can-go-ahead/) [Julian Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-edelman/) > [I believe it is within our capacity that by the year 2051 that 51 percent of the human population will be flourishing. That is my charge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-seligman/i-believe-it-is-within-our-capacity-that-by-the-year-2051-that-51/) [Martin Seligman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-seligman/) > [I care what 51 percent of the people think about me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-care-what-51-percent-of-the-people-think-about-me/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [If you're a smart guy, you should really try to find out what women are thinking. I mean, we are 51 percent of the population.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/if-you-re-a-smart-guy-you-should-really-try-to-find-out-what-women/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [Remember it only takes giving love and good feelings a minimum of 51 percent of the tiem to reach the tipping point and change everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-byrne/remember-it-only-takes-giving-love-and-good-feelings-a-minimum-of-51/) [Rhonda Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-byrne/) > [ The Electoral College said that \[Donald Trump\] is the president, he's the president.But as a president, you also have to build. And if I'm… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-chaffetz/the-electoral-college-said-that-donald-trump-is-the-president-he-s/) [Jason Chaffetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-chaffetz/) > [The rich don't win elections. They support the money, but what percentage of America are rich? What is it, 2 percent? But they all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-king/the-rich-don-t-win-elections-they-support-the-money-but-what/) [Larry King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-king/) > [Every election, roughly half the population votes Democrat and the other half votes Republican. Now, I understand why the Republicans get one percent of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/every-election-roughly-half-the-population-votes-democrat-and-the/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [We vote - if the public votes 50 percent, we vote 70 percent. So we have a bigger impact with our numbers, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-p-hoffa/we-vote-if-the-public-votes-50-percent-we-vote-70-percent-so-we-have/) [James P. Hoffa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-p-hoffa/) > [I've been winning with 70 percent of the vote, and if you look at my district, you know it's a majority Christian district, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-ellison/i-ve-been-winning-with-70-percent-of-the-vote-and-if-you-look-at-my/) [Keith Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-ellison/) ## More by Hamilton Jordan > [I was in Vietnam, and I was exposed to Agent Orange. And there's a high relationship between people that were exposed to Agent Orange…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamilton-jordan/i-was-in-vietnam-and-i-was-exposed-to-agent-orange-and-there-s-a-high/) [Hamilton Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamilton-jordan/) > [When you have a diagnosis of cancer, or any serious illness, your choices are basically to be passive and kind of accept whatever is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamilton-jordan/when-you-have-a-diagnosis-of-cancer-or-any-serious-illness-your/) [Hamilton Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamilton-jordan/) > [I think the system is broken; most people think that it's broken. And we think that what we're going to do is invigorate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamilton-jordan/i-think-the-system-is-broken-most-people-think-that-it-s-broken-and/) [Hamilton Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamilton-jordan/) > [If you had found the right candidate in 2000 or 2004, and you could have put that man or woman, given them ballot access…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamilton-jordan/if-you-had-found-the-right-candidate-in-2000-or-2004-and-you-could/) [Hamilton Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamilton-jordan/) > [If, after the election, you find a Cy Vance as Secretary of State and a Zbigniew Brzezinski as head of National Security, then I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamilton-jordan/if-after-the-election-you-find-a-cy-vance-as-secretary-of-state-and-a/) [Hamilton Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamilton-jordan/) > [We're trying to build a platform utilizing the Internet that allows the good American people to speak out about their frustration about the polarized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamilton-jordan/we-re-trying-to-build-a-platform-utilizing-the-internet-that-allows/) [Hamilton Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamilton-jordan/) > [I know a lot of people that had one cancer that are not alive today. I've had three. So my glass is much more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamilton-jordan/i-know-a-lot-of-people-that-had-one-cancer-that-are-not-alive-today-i/) [Hamilton Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamilton-jordan/) > [My role in the White House was grossly exaggerated by the press. Fortunately for the American people, when the president had to make a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamilton-jordan/my-role-in-the-white-house-was-grossly-exaggerated-by-the-press/) [Hamilton Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamilton-jordan/) > [I've never been a Clinton fan. He's had some accomplishments, and he's very skilled at politics, but, you know, he's had some successes and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamilton-jordan/i-ve-never-been-a-clinton-fan-he-s-had-some-accomplishments-and-he-s/) [Hamilton Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamilton-jordan/) > [The difference today is that, in both parties, the very extreme elements control the nomination process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamilton-jordan/the-difference-today-is-that-in-both-parties-the-very-extreme/) [Hamilton Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamilton-jordan/) > [To say that Jimmy Carter does not understand politics or is not a good politician denies the phenomenon by which he got to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamilton-jordan/to-say-that-jimmy-carter-does-not-understand-politics-or-is-not-a/) [Hamilton Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamilton-jordan/) > [I didn't work for Jimmy Carter all those years to go to cocktail parties. I was there as a political adviser, a short-order cook,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamilton-jordan/i-didn-t-work-for-jimmy-carter-all-those-years-to-go-to-cocktail/) [Hamilton Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamilton-jordan/) > [You mentioned Ross Perot. Mr. Perot jumped into the race at the last minute, had one issue that he ran on, the budget deficit,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamilton-jordan/you-mentioned-ross-perot-mr-perot-jumped-into-the-race-at-the-last/) [Hamilton Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamilton-jordan/) > [And a tiny number of people in a few states make these decisions, and we're left with these options that are increasingly not attractive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamilton-jordan/and-a-tiny-number-of-people-in-a-few-states-make-these-decisions-and/) [Hamilton Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamilton-jordan/) > [I went to my son's graduation this weekend, and I heard a great quote I've never heard before from Albert Einstein. It was that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamilton-jordan/i-went-to-my-son-s-graduation-this-weekend-and-i-heard-a-great-quote/) [Hamilton Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamilton-jordan/) [Explore all 25 Hamilton Jordan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamilton-jordan/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) [Browse all 26,122 About quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "And when you start talking about the practicality of winning a race like that - you've got to remember we're not talking about winning 51 percent of the vote. We're talking about winning 36, 37, 38 percent of the vote.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Hamilton Jordan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamilton-jordan/and-when-you-start-talking-about-the-practicality-of-winning-a-race/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "About" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamilton-jordan/and-when-you-start-talking-about-the-practicality-of-winning-a-race/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aff/hamilton-jordan-23690_about_and-when-you-start-talking-about-the-pra_2906074.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aff/hamilton-jordan-23690_about_and-when-you-start-talking-about-the-pra_2906074.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aff/hamilton-jordan-23690_about_and-when-you-start-talking-about-the-pra_2906074.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“And when you start talking about the practicality of winning a race like that - you've got to remember we're…” — Hamilton Jordan", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Hamilton Jordan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamilton-jordan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "And when you start talking about...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamilton-jordan/and-when-you-start-talking-about-the-practicality-of-winning-a-race/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamilton-jordan/and-when-you-start-talking-about-the-practicality-of-winning-a-race/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```