Jon Stewart, for one, is underwhelmed by Eric Cantor's stunning downfall

Jon Stewart, for one, is underwhelmed by Eric Cantor's stunning downfall
(Image credit: Daily Show)

Jon Stewart, like everyone else, is surprised by House Majority Leader Eric Cantor's (R-Va.) loss to little-known GOP primary opponent David Brat. But, he noted on Wednesday night's Daily Show, the loss isn't really that earth-shattering — certainly not "David over Goliath times 1,000," as one pundit colorfully put it.

"So, 65,000 people in one congressional district in Virginia have overthrown a clearly arrogant and unsuspecting incumbent," he said, noting (repeatedly) that Cantor spent more of his campaign war chest at steakhouses than Brat did on his entire campaign. ("How did you spend $169,000 on steak?" Stewart asked of Cantor — and Politico has the answer.) Surely this is a case of "all politics is local"? Not if cable news has 24 hours to fill, he sighed: So, "to the broader-lesson-mobile!"

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.