Some polls show “fix it” to be as popular as “repeal.” But Republicans, including Jolly, have already been maneuvering around that, as the panzers maneuvered through the Ardennes, by coming out for “repeal and replace.”

And congressional Republicans have come forward with intellectually serious and probably politically appealing “repeal and replace” alternatives.

Another alternative for a campaign on the defensive is to change the subject. But the Sink campaign did not see fit to stress themes the president has been voicing, addressing “income inequality” by raising the minimum wage or increasing overtime pay.

Those policies get wide approval in polls. But there’s little evidence that they’re important enough to voters to swing votes.

Instead, the Sink campaign trotted out traditional Democratic themes. Republicans would “privatize” Social Security. They would threaten Medicare.