The left is certainly focused on the second method.
True.
Also, it’s always been my opinion that the Left was talking to the media while Trump was talking directly to Americans (still is).
If politicians are so invested in having their message filtered through the media, they put themselves at a disadvantage, IMMEDIATELY. This is especially true if (as is NOW the case) the media has made itself SO distrusted, maligned and frankly, irrelevant.
Surrendering your voice and your message to a third party is never going to make you look authentic and credible.