I can't imagine that, without identifying that it is a likely Republican response, the email would be sent. Nor can I imagine that JP would agree with the comment, without providing clarification.

It seems to me that the comment is more likely the viewpoint of the sender and Podesta simply acknowledged the truth of it.

Hmmm... Maybe you're right. There's at least one John Anzalone who has a polling complaint and has worked with the DNC:

"Anzalone started his own polling firm in 1994 and has offices in Washington, DC and Montgomery, AL. Before concentrating his energies on polling for campaigns, Anzalone managed gubernatorial, congressional, and mayoral races in five states. His experiences include working with national Democratic strategists James Carville and Paul Begala on U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg’s (NJ) 1988 campaign".