.By Daniela Altimari, Niels Lesniewski and Mary Ellen McIntire

Michelle Obama stood on the stage at the Democratic National Convention in 2016 and famously issued a call to reject the politics of personal pettiness .

For Democrats, those days are long over. From Gavin Newsom’s Trump-trolling social media posts to the party’s willingness to engage in tit-for-tat redistricting, Democratic leaders are embracing a more combative approach.

“We cannot be the only party that plays by the rules anymore,” DNC Chair Ken Martin said at this week’s Democratic National Committee summer meeting in Minneapolis. “We’re not going to have a hand tied behind our back anymore. Let’s grow a damn spine and get in this fight, Democrats.”

But it will take more than tough talk and all-caps taunts to addr

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