Dems modify Michelle Obama's mantra: 'When they go low, we kick ‘em in the nuts'

In recent weeks, former First Lady Michelle Obama has toured the country promoting voter registration.

“Not voting is like letting your grandma pick your clothes out ," Obama said in Las Vegas Sunday. "You are essentially putting your future in the hands of others.”

"I’m here today to talk about why voting matters," the former First Lady said.

Her non-partisan approach to voting advocacy echoes her refrain from 2016.

“When they go low, we go high,” Obama declared in 2016, as the election devolved into nasty personal attacks that distracted from policy issues.

But in the run-up to 2020, many Democrats are taking a more aggressive approach to unseat Donald Trump. As Politico reports, potential 2020 presidential contenders and their backers have embraced a more abrasive style.

“When they go low, we kick ‘em in the nuts,” Sean Clegg, a California Democratic strategist, told Politico.

“When they go low, I say we hit harder,” said Michael Avenatti, Stormy Daniels' lawyer, who's expressed an interest in running.

Others have also broadcast their toughness and ability to stand up to the Trump administration, Politico observes.

In June, Sen. Elizabeth Warren said the president stands for “hatefulness, ugliness and cruelty.”

When Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif) was asked, "If you had to be stuck in an elevator with either President Trump, Mike Pence or Jeff Sessions, who would it be?"” Harris shot back, “Does one of us have to come out alive?”

Another Democratic strategist observed that regardless of the candidates' tactics, they need to inspire voters.

“Whether that’s someone who’s talented at prosecutions, like [former Attorney General] Eric Holder or Kamala Harris, or someone who’s just good at getting press to pay attention to what he says, you know, remains to be seen,” Bill Burton, a veteran of the Obama White House, said.

“My guess is we’re going to need someone who’s effective at litigating the case against President Trump so we have a better outcome than we had in 2016.”