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The midterm elections are looking like an impending disaster for the Democratic Party.
The reason is clear: The public is unfazed by the party’s attempt to make the upcoming elections about anything other than the economy. Whether it be the subject of abortion “rights,” Jan. 6, climate change, gun control, Ukraine, COVID-19, or student loan “forgiveness,” the political establishment failed to distract us from the singular issue that matters most: being able to afford to live.
Indeed, according to Gallup 38% view the economy as the most important issue facing the country today, compounded by a further 22% who view the government or “poor leadership” as the biggest problem.
What about the distraction issues Democrats tried — and failed — to build their campaigns upon? Only 4% believe that abortion is the most important issue. Climate change received 3%, while gun control received just 1%.
And all of this is built on a foundation of President Joe Biden’s own unpopularity. He hasn’t enjoyed more than 50% approval across the population since the summer of 2021, before his disastrous and deadly withdrawal from Afghanistan.
The result? According to a Washington Post/ABC News poll in recent weeks, a majority of Democrats and left-leaning independents want Biden replaced as their 2024 nominee.
And while this might be a point of celebration for those who despise the president — and understandably so — we must ask: Who’s next?
Yes, Biden is largely responsible for a significant part of the country’s current state. While he’s busy telling teenage girls “no serious guys until you’re 30” or scarfing down an ice cream while insisting that the U.S. economy is “strong as [expletive],” the public is struggling to survive beneath the predictable consequences of his policies.
But while all eyes are on Biden, we should note that a hyper focus on singular leaders comes with the risk of ignoring the systemic rot festering at the heart of the Left. As a society, we have an obsession with saviors and villains. If only, we declare, the “good guy” can be voted in and the “bad guy” voted out, all will be saved!
Of course, this isn’t true. Yes, we should push as hard as possible to unseat Biden as soon as legally possible, but we must also consider what comes next. Who will replace him? When we look at the line of potential candidates eager to step into his slippers, it becomes clear that there is always someone worse waiting in the shadows.
Whether inept — Vice President Kamala Harris and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg come to mind — or ideologically dangerous — Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom are all far more radical than Biden — none of the options are good ones.
However, this should not be misinterpreted as a defeatist downplaying of the importance of voting. In fact, this stands as proof that every election matters. One way or another, Biden will leave the White House, whether that be in January of 2025, 2029, or sometime beforehand. On that day, we cannot think that the battle is won. Instead, the battle is just beginning.
Reporting from The Washington Examiner.
