The GOP has finally figured out a 2018 strategy. Her name is Hillary Clinton.

You remember her, right? Wrote a book, makes the occasional public appearance, not actually president of the United States, and exceedingly unlikely to destroy your life?

Hillary Clinton.
(Image credit: Illustrated | AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

If you're a Republican political consultant, this year you've probably had your clients look into your eyes, fear and desperation on their faces, and ask, "What are we going to do?" It's not an easy question to answer, given that we may be headed for a wave election. The thing about waves is that they push past everything before them, which in a political context means that the characteristics of individual districts and candidates matter less and less as the wave sweeps over.

But Republicans have a plan, in the form of two magic words that will turn the electorate back their way: Hillary Clinton.

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Paul Waldman

Paul Waldman is a senior writer with The American Prospect magazine and a blogger for The Washington Post. His writing has appeared in dozens of newspapers, magazines, and web sites, and he is the author or co-author of four books on media and politics.