The Pendulum Swings

[SethBullock]

In 2020, Biden won the State of Virginia by 10 points.

Two days ago Virginia held an election and elected Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, to be their next governor. They also elected Winsome Sears, a Republican, to be their next Lt. Governor.

Sears is a naturalized citizen from Jamaica. She served in the U.S. Marine Corps. I watched her give her acceptance speech, and it was uplifting and inspiring to say the least.

 

[DreamRyderX]

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2022 Polls Looking "Scary" For Democrats

Source: NBC NEWS - Meet the Press

We have a brand new NBC News poll out this morning that's filled with some scary news for the Democrats. The overarching message: Americans have lost their confidence in President Biden and their optimism for the country, at least, they have right now. Just 22% of adults say we're headed in the right direction. A shocking 71% say we're on the wrong track and that includes a near majority of Democrats who are saying that. President Biden's approval rating stands at a dismal 42%, versus 54% who disapprove. Believe it or not, just two months ago, Mr. Biden was in positive territory -- 49% approving and 48% disapproving. So, what's pulling down the president's numbers? Well look at his set of numbers: just 37% say he has the ability right now to handle a crisis, versus nearly a majority who say he does not. Thirty-seven percent also say he's competent and effective as president. Fifty percent disagree with that description. What's more, Republicans, believe it or not, have double-digit leads in dealing with border security, inflation, crime, national security, the economy and -- shockingly -- on getting things done. Democrats hold generally smaller double-digit leads on dealing with climate change, the coronavirus, education and abortion, and that’s really it right now. It's not clear yet whether any deal struck by Democrats on the social spending and infrastructure bills will nudge Mr. Biden's numbers back into positive territory, or whether the damage to his reputation is more of a scar than a bruise. But this much is clear: about the only good news for Mr. Biden and the Democrats in this poll is that the midterm elections aren't for another year.

President Biden <is> struggling at home, now facing allies in Europe without the political victory he had been hoping for. The 18-point Republican edge on handling of the economy is fueled by economic pessimism -- 79% call the economy fair or poor. Just 41% of Democrats believe the country is headed in the right direction - down 23 points since April. And Republicans are up by 13 points on being effective and getting things done -- a number likely driven by the messy, public debate over Biden's social spending plans, which has exposed ideological divisions in the Democratic Party.

Biden's new Nickname: Slidin' Biden

Let's Go Brandon!

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[greggerypeccary]

The Virginia governor’s race almost always goes against whichever party is in the White House; indeed, journalist Eric Boehlert, who studies the press, noted that this pattern is so well established that in 2009, during President Barack Obama’s first term in office, when Democrats lost the races for governor of New Jersey and Virginia, the New York Times published only a single piece of analysis, saying “the defeats may or may not spell trouble for Democrats.” Boehlert noted that the New York Times has already posted at least 9 articles about Democratic candidate Terry McAuliffe’s loss last night in Virginia.

 

[DreamRyderX]

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US Election Setbacks.....Trouble for the Democrats?​

President Joe Biden and his Democratic Party’s governing majority in Congress, which has struggled to advance his political agenda, got an ominous warning sign from discontented voters in United States local elections
on November 2.

In the state of Virginia, a Republican candidate for governor allied with former President Donald Trump, soundly defeated a well-known Democrat, backed by the president, who, given that Biden carried the state by 10 points last year, should have won.

In New Jersey, the incumbent Democratic governor barely avoided defeat by a surging Republican challenger lifted by a backlash against Biden and national Democrats.

The election outcomes sent a disconcerting omen to Democrats and gave Republicans a charge of enthusiasm heading into 2022 nationwide elections that will be a contest for control of the House and Senate and thus, the future of Biden’s presidency.

In remarks to reporters at the White House, Biden acknowledged the defeat and argued it points to the imperative for Democrats in Congress to pass his proposed $1.75 trillion social spending and climate plan.

“People are at a point – and it’s understandable – where there’s a whole lot of confusion,” said Biden, who nevertheless projected a dismissive attitude toward the Republican showing.

“Everything from, ‘Are you going to ever get COVID under control?’, to ‘Are my kids going to be in school? Are they going to be able to stay in school?’, to ‘Whether or not I’m going to get a tax break that allows me to be able to pay for the needs of my kids and my family?’,” Biden said.

Political newcomer, Republican Glenn Youngkin’s victory over Democrat Terry McAuliffe in the race for governor of Virginia was driven by independent voters frustrated with Democrats in Congress and worried about the economy, according to exit poll surveys by NBC News and The Washington Post .........

Source

Independent voters are now, have in the recent past been, & will be in the foreseeable future, the deciding factors in American Elections....both National & Regional...........Both DemocRats & Republicans are acutely aware of this, because Independents, by definition, have no allegiance to any particular Party.....but tend to lean to the Right more so than not......

 

[HBS Guy]

People have had a chance to vote against the Dem giovt. Now they won’t be as heat up in 2022.