Republicans pitching inflation as Democrats' downfall ahead of midterms: 'Voters are nervous'
Although strategists from both parties are "closely watching" as (what's claimed to be) "transitory" inflation plagues the U.S. economy, Republicans in particular consider rising prices a "potent" issue playing to their advantage ahead of the 2022 midterms, reports McClatchy.
"I believe the economic challenges the country faces, with inflation leading them, will be the single biggest concern to voters this cycle," said Don Conston, president of a super PAC with ties to House Republican leadership. "It's already there, and likely that it will only intensify further going forward."
Operatives are arguing that "the longer inflation remains a concern, the more likely voters are to naturally blame the party in power in Washington," writes McClatchy. Recent polling from Pew Research Center and Fox News found voters to be decently concerned about inflation and higher prices.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"If inflation continues to rise, I think it's very problematic for Democrats," said veteran Republican pollster Glen Bolger. "The longer this goes on, the more it impacts the economy and the mood of voters. Voters are nervous." Democrats have noticed public concern, but hope the issue is moot by November 2022.
Inflation has already taken center-stage in Republicans' early paid media campaigns, notes McClatchy. In fact, "The NRCC, CLF, and its associated nonprofit group, American Action Network, have all aired TV or digital ads over the last three months blaming vulnerable House Democrats and their policies for rising prices."
"This is going to be an issue all the way through to the midterms," said NRCC Chairman Tom Emmer. "This will come back to bite them at the ballot box in 2022." Added Republican strategist and former aide to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) John Ashbrook: "You'll hear candidates talking about it over and over and over again." Read more at McClatchy.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
-
Political cartoons for November 30Cartoons Sunday's political cartoons include the Saudi-China relationship, MAGA spelled wrong, and more
-
Rothermere’s Telegraph takeover: ‘a right-leaning media powerhouse’Talking Point Deal gives Daily Mail and General Trust more than 50% of circulation in the UK newspaper market
-
The US-Saudi relationship: too big to fail?Talking Point With the Saudis investing $1 trillion into the US, and Trump granting them ‘major non-Nato ally’ status, for now the two countries need each other
-
Tariffs: Will Trump’s reversal lower prices?Feature Retailers may not pass on the savings from tariff reductions to consumers
-
Judge halts Trump’s DC Guard deploymentSpeed Read The Trump administration has ‘infringed upon the District’s right to govern itself,’ the judge ruled
-
Trump accuses Democrats of sedition meriting ‘death’Speed Read The president called for Democratic lawmakers to be arrested for urging the military to refuse illegal orders
-
Court strikes down Texas GOP gerrymanderSpeed Read The Texas congressional map ordered by Trump is likely an illegal racial gerrymander, the court ruled
-
Trump defends Saudi prince, shrugs off Khashoggi murderSpeed Read The president rebuked an ABC News reporter for asking Mohammed bin Salman about the death of a Washington Post journalist at the Saudi Consulate in 2018
-
Congress passes bill to force release of Epstein filesSpeed Read The Justice Department will release all files from its Jeffrey Epstein sex-trafficking investigation
-
Trump says he will sell F-35 jets to Saudi ArabiaSpeed Read The president plans to make several deals with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman this week
-
Judge blasts ‘profound’ errors in Comey caseSpeed Read ‘Government misconduct’ may necessitate dismissing the charges against the former FBI director altogether
