The “red wave” Republicans had predicted at the hands of Donald Trump – and which Democrats feared most –finally it did not materialize, in mid-term legislative elections this Tuesday to United States of America It was clear that President Joe Biden and the Democrats have not suffered a fatal blow, far from it: they are still very much alive and ready to face the next elections with their heads held high.
“It’s better than we imagined,” they celebrated Tuesday night in the White House and pointed out that the map of the United States hasn’t changed much. “There are a feeling of relief because that red wave could not be seen ”, the color with which republicans identify themselves.
Historically, in the mid-term elections, the ruling party suffers a severe blow at the polls and Congress often changes hands. It happened to Bill Clinton in 1994 and to Barack Obama in 2010, although they were later re-elected. But few presidents have faced elections with record inflation in 40 years, skyrocketing fuel and a pandemic behind them.
Perhaps the famous maxim coined in 1992 by Democratic strategist James Carville was shattered on Tuesday night: “It’s the economy, stupid!” when he focused the Clinton campaign on Americans’ concern for their wallets.
Problems in the balance
While most voters see Biden leading the country in the wrong direction and that it is not managing the economy well and unprecedented inflation, not only have they balanced their economic fears. They also asked other questions like democracy, “normality” and concern for civil rights.
Elections in the United States they define themselves with moderates. It is possible that this bloc was spooked by a return to the chaos and aggression of Donald Trump and his followers, many of whom are still unaware of the 2020 defeat and even managed to storm the Capitol.
The defeat of the deniers
Indeed, a Washington Post account, which follows the fate of “Denier” Republican candidates. of Biden’s victory, claimed 14 of those House of Representatives candidates lost, and at least 20 others were headed for defeat.
The question of abortion has also penetrated deeply, above all mobilized the women of the suburbs to defend that right that was curtailed by the June Supreme Court ruling. Many feared that an ultra-conservative wave would further advance on this and other acquired civil rights.
Trump’s failure
No doubt one of the big losers of the evening was Trump. Many of the high-profile candidates he fervently supported – the most famous outsiders –they were defeated.
One was Kari Lake, an aspiring governor of Arizona and a former news anchor; another was television star Mahmet Oz’s doctor in Pennsylvania and soccer legend Herschel Walker in Georgia, who had not received the expected support. And there was more.
Only writer JD Vance, who harshly criticized Trump at the time but who later received tycoon support, won in Ohio. When she thanked his triumph, she carefully avoided mentioning the former president.
A day before the election, Trump said he would “a big announcement ”next Tuesday, suggesting he could race again to compete for the White House. Now maybe rethink or delay his decision because the climate that reigns today among Republicans is rather one of failure, not quite like this man who has always called himself a “winner”.
Some Republican strategists have wondered if it wasn’t a mistake to support Trump’s policies that are too far out of the box. mainstream”Or what most people think.
Ron DeSantis, a clear winner
To further complicate the landscape for Trump, these elections a clear winner in the Republican ranks: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who overwhelmed his state by 17 points and now threatens the tycoon’s reign with his possible run to the White House in 2024.
Ultra-conservative and pro-business, he abolished the teaching of sex education in schools, but installed the “Day of the Victims of Communism” talk about the “dangers of that ideology”.
DeSantis had the ability to do that do not join the wave against abortion to which many republican states climbed and, without raising waves, kept abortion allowed up to 14 weeks of pregnancy.
He just touched on the issue in the campaign. Away from the scandals of the former president, his followers consider him “A father of a family” and has support, as confirmed Clarione on his Florida tour, including among the Democrats. New Yorker magazine called it a “Trump with a brain.”
the future
The Democrats, meanwhile, breathed. The correct result will allow Biden govern even with a certain pulse and with an agenda that can agree with a tight Congress and not massively against it, as it could have been. The Republicans had even threatened to do so impeach him for his role in Afghanistan and the pandemic. impossible now with parliament so tight.
Biden today can I dream of running for re-election -Not even a brilliant Democratic candidate has appeared– but he certainly doesn’t have a blank check.
The moderates and the independentsand they gave it another chance of survival that will not be eternal: if in the remainder of your term inflation does not go down and the economy does not improve, moderate Americans, those who usually define elections, they will not hesitate to change parties again.
Washington, correspondent
ap
Source: Clarin
