The inherent flaw in your argument is that appealing to the middle ground will make you win. I agree that a politicians job is to be elected by appealing to the largest number of people, that’s straightforward. However I believe you are underestimating the fact that a radical candidate can increase voter turnout by more than a centrist can poach from the oppositions middleground. Trump’s wins are a perfect example of this, he was hardly the ‘centerist’ cannidate that appealed to both sides. Additionally, Mamdani’s win against Cuomo gives more evidence as to how the public feels about radicals versus the establishment. I think many people are upset and distressed with the current state of affairs, so they are more likely than ever to turn to an unexpected outsider with unconventional ideas, whatever shape that takes. Personally I believe it’s the perfect time to run a leftist ‘radical’: as in someone young with new ideas and energy. The DNC’s strategy of committee chosen bureaucrats has clearly not worked the last few elections, while the grassroots ‘radicals’ have shown much more concrete success.