Dem Operatives Explain Why They Contributed To Mark Halperin’s New Book

Several Democratic strategists contributed to journalist Mark Halperin’s new book that discusses various ways to defeat President Donald Trump in 2020, Politico reported Sunday.

David Axelrod, Anita Dunn, and Donna Brazile were among 75 operatives who spoke with Halperin as the former NBC News senior political analyst fleshed out the details for his new book, “How To Beat Trump: America’s Top Political Strategists On What It Will Take.”

They offered a variety of explanations for their decision. “I’m not the author. Ask Mark why he chose us,” Brazile told CNN’s Oliver Darcy Sunday. Long-time Democratic strategist, James Carville, said he discussed the election with Halperin because “the guy called me & asked me to speak to him on a topic that I obviously care about. And I spoke to him.”

Others said they were concerned about one thing in particular: beating Trump. “Anita cares about beating Donald Trump, that is the only reason she participated,” a representative for Dunn’s firm, SKDKnickerbocker, told Darcy. Dunn’s group works with TimesUp, a movement against sexual harassment.

Halperin has been out of the public eye since 2017 when several women accused him of sexual harassment and assault. He allegedly pressed his clothed erect genitals on women, groped women, and masturbated in front of a woman, all while serving in a senior position at ABC News.

Halperin’s book will be released in November of 2019.