So the Democratic convention did exactly what Parks did and even suggested Clinton had a bit of Knope in her. She worked so hard she impressed political opponents. She fought for what she believed in tirelessly. She never quit, even when things seemed dire.
Those who attack her, then, are only playing into the Knope-like Clinton Democrats tried to build up a tireless striver who suffers the slings and arrows of criticism to come out the other side, stronger.
Or look to President Obama, who quoted a famous Teddy Roosevelt summation about the "man in the arena," a quote that Ron may as well have said of Leslie late in the shows run, when the two had a deeply affectionate camaraderie, despite their political differences.
Or, hell, let Leslie Knope herself say it in so many words:
That's why people respect Hillary Clinton so much. 'Cause nobody takes a punch like her. She's the strongest, smartest punching bag in the world.
Will this rebranding work? Its hard to say. At times, the DNC has felt like an attempt to shield Clinton from attacks from all angles. Shes defended as a progressive champion here, and as someone hawkish against global terror there. She can occasionally feel like a large collection of different selves, who exist alongside each other, rather than someone with a cohesive central message.
But the other big bet the Democrats have made is that Clintons complication, her 40 years of public service, her Leslie Knope-ish qualities are her cohesive, central message. Their hope is that by surrounding her with people you know and like, then having them say, "Boy, that Hillary Clinton sure is great!" they can get those who are on the fence about her to feel similarly.
After all, it worked for Leslie Knope. Why not take a shot on seeing if it will work for the woman whose image literally looked over Leslies shoulder all those years on TV?
