"It's good to have an enemy," says #George #Birnbaum, one of the godfathers of modern #populism. "Very rarely will you find someone who's loved by everybody."
A political consultant for 30 years, he helped Benjamin Netanyahu come to power in a surprise victory in Israel in 1996, and Hungary's Viktor Orban in 2010.
Birnbaum built his reputation as one of "Arthur's kids" - under mentor and late business partner #Arthur #Finkelstein, a brilliant mathematician who re-invented the art of political campaigning in the US, helping Richard Nixon to power in 1972, as well as many other Republican leaders.
"One should…try to #polarize the #election around that #issue that cuts best in your direction, i.e. #drugs, #crime, #race in New York State…," Finkelstein wrote in a 1970 memo. "When the opponent seizes the polarisation initiative, then you're in trouble."
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-66065550