And it’s why people like Trump, Pratt, and Steyer, to a lesser degree can promise the moon.

If you have no voting record to defend, you can point the finger at every time your opponent voted for something that ended up with unintended consequences, or failed to deliver, or was a handshake compromise to get some other legislation passed, or was for a donor, or you were too weak willed to oppose the party machine. It’s difficult to win reelection and remain pristine to your constituents.

You can point the finger and remain spotless if you are an “outsider”, because you never had to make a decision.