Laura Washington: Taking back Congress should be a slam dunk for Democrats
There may never be a more favorable setup for a midterm election cycle than the current iteration.
As we roll into the thick of this year’s fall campaigns, Democrats are all wringing their hands about taking Congress back. We will get the House, they stoutly declare, then add a frail whisper that the Senate could be a long shot.
The Democrats are skeptical. They need to get over it. They should be exuberant.
There are many factors that should make taking Congress back a slam dunk.
Inflation is on fire. Go to the store one day to buy anything. Repeat the purchase next week, and the price is higher. Gas prices? Don’t even go there. Interest rates are going up, and the 10-year Treasury rate is near 5%, the highest in years.
We’re fighting with Iran. We’re crucifying Canada, our closest ally and neighbor to the north. Americans are nervous about losing our jobs to artificial intelligence and robots.
Farmers are sobbing in the soybean fields, thanks to President Donald Trump’s notorious tariffs. They can’t sell to China, their largest customer. The Brazilians are eating their lunch. And data centers seem to be springing up everywhere.
Voters don’t like it, at all. Trump’s response? Don’t worry, be happy. Just wait — AI will put a smile on your faces, he........
