12 Comments
User's avatar
тна Return to thread
Jonathan's avatar

well put..this election was over before it began(imo Harris did the best she could)

Expand full comment
DiesIrae's avatar

I'm not sure I'd go quite that far, but I do think she ran an above average campaign given the situation we were in. Did a pretty good job clawing back our losses among high-propensity voters. Couldn't overcome the undertow among low-propensity ones.

Expand full comment
Jonathan's avatar

She was weighted down by Biden and perceived inflation.. I'm confident that Trump will quickly f things up

Expand full comment
michaelflutist's avatar

He will, but how much will voters blame him and other Republicans, and how much will their opinions even matter?

Expand full comment
DiesIrae's avatar

If he screws up the economy (i.e. recession or another inflationary surge), he'll get blamed. Just like we did.

Expand full comment
michaelflutist's avatar

Maybe. But you know the economy suddenly improves in the eyes of his supporters when he wins elections, and few seem to blame him for the apocalyptic conditions he left the country in in 2020.

Expand full comment
Avedee Eikew's avatar

The economy was decent in 2018 and he still lost 40 house seats under a more gerrymandered national map. Nothing is guaranteed but plenty of reason to have hope he can lose Congress even if the economy doesn't go into the toilet.

Expand full comment
michaelflutist's avatar

He had lost the popular vote in 2016. Things were different.

Expand full comment
Avedee Eikew's avatar

How many voters in 2018 or in 2026 cared/will care about the previous popular vote percentage? Why do you think it will have any impact at all?

Expand full comment
michaelflutist's avatar

If nothing else than that it's caused Democrats to behave differently and treat Trump's win this time as more legitimate.

Expand full comment
Avedee Eikew's avatar

I don't see that being worth anything by the midterms but we'll see. I'd also say the Democrats coming back from 215 instead of 194 is a bigger net positive than the PV margin.

Expand full comment
Jonathan's avatar

Great question

Expand full comment