As for identity politics, the NYT picked on a single issue they wondered why the Democrats had supported so strongly when there was simply zero upside, and plenty of downside.

The Issue? Supporting those in the USA illegally.

1. Hispanics who are legal, for the most part support enforcement of the laws, and do not identify with those who are currently illegal.

2. Even if one were to assume that ALL Hispanics were in favour of amnesty it still would not deal with the fact that Hispanics who are registered to vote, have the lowest turn out by far for any measurable group.

The NYT article pointed to several studies that even if the Democrats just remained quite about this issue (especially in selecting candidates) there was a very large swing population they could mine, in several key states.

The whole point of the article was that the 2018 interim's were theirs to lose - and they were making every effort possible to do so...