Years ago, when the candidate I was working for rejected my advice, I made the mistake of going back to the headquarters and telling my loyal staff (who together had formulated the rejected proposal) that our recommendation had been declined. I did my best, I told them, but I just couldn’t make the sale.

One of my closest pals, and one of the smartest politicos I’ve ever known, took me aside to tell me I had made a monstrous mistake by telling everyone I’d failed, rather than convincing them that, upon further reflection, I’d changed my mind and come to the conclusion, shared by the candidate, that our plan was flawed.

You just admitted to half of the campaign that you are powerless, he explained. Far better in the long run for them to think you were just wrong.