This article is part of The D.C. Brief, TIME’s politics newsletter. Sign up here to get stories like this sent to your inbox. Every four years, ambitious consultants and hired guns sit down with aspiring presidents and sell them a lie. They deploy grandiose language and delusional sentiments like “Fundraising will be easy” and “No state is off the map” and “Heck, the race might actually be fun for the whole family.” [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] It is, of course, hogwash. No political pro gets to Election Day credibly saying they ran the campaign they envisioned without adjustments.