As the media focuses on Joe Biden’s dismal poll numbers, network pundits struggle to make sense of the Democrats’ off-year election victories

As the media focuses on Joe Biden’s dismal poll numbers, network pundits struggle to make sense of the Democrats’ off-year election victories

Democrats appeared headed for big wins in the off-year election tonight, with Andy Beshear expected to win re-election in Kentucky, an abortion-rights ballot easily passed in Ohio and the party on track to take full control. wins from the General Assembly and replaces Virginia. .

As cable news networks used graphics and teams of experts to express their opinions, there was a certain amount of consternation to make sense of 2024.

Earlier in the evening, CNN released the results of a poll showing President Joe Biden trailing former President Donald Trump in a rematch, adding to the story that Democrats are facing five warning signs when it comes to their prospects next year , gives additional fuel.

On MSNBC, when it was clear that Beshear was headed for re-election against Republican Daniel Cameron in the deep red state, Chris Hayes said, “If everything has gone as bad as people say, especially economically, then believe it. “I don’t.” I don’t think you would predict that an incumbent Democratic governor of the state of Kentucky… would win this race. There’s a bit of a disconnect between what people are telling pollsters: the right way, the wrong way and all that, and a Democratic governor in Kentucky expanding his lead. [from 2019 to 2023] when you have a Democrat in the White House.”

On CNN after the Kentucky race was called, Jake Tapper asked if there was a “Beshear template” that other candidates could follow. Abby Phillip replied, “I think when you talk to Democrats who are working on issues and campaigns across the country, each of these races is different in some way, and each of these candidates should be, as both parties will say: the “right choice for your state, for your district.”

She added: “You wouldn’t think that he would resign himself to embrace Joe Biden, to embrace the national Democrats, even just to embrace a national story in his state. To be honest, I don’t think you won’t see much of that in the next cycle because what the polls are really showing us is that both parties are extremely toxic at the national level.”

This analysis refutes some of the recent expert opinion – it’s an old saying All politics is local no longer applicable as national politics now infect local races, even down to the level of school board campaigns.

Later on CNN, commentator Kate Bedingfield, Biden’s former White House communications director, suggested that the president would likely be blamed if Beshear had lost, but not given credit for his victory. She noted that the party that won the governor’s race in Kentucky also won the presidential race in the last five cycles.

But about an hour later, CNN’s David Chalian explained the network’s latest poll, concluding: “The Democratic brand is not in trouble. Joe Biden is in trouble.”

The White House, for its part, quickly seized on the results in Ohio, where voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional measure protecting access to abortion. Ahead of his upcoming presentation on the issue, Biden said the vote was proof that Republicans had an “extreme and dangerous agenda” that was “out of step with the vast majority of Americans.”

In Virginia, Democrats led the way in their efforts to retain control of the Senate and take control of the House. Control of the General Assembly is likely to prevent Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin from passing a 15-week abortion ban. Youngkin was considered a potential latecomer to the Republican presidential field, but the result is a defeat for him.

A potential bright spot for the Republican Party was Mississippi, where Governor Tate Reeves led Democrat Brandon Presley, a second cousin of Elvis Presley.

On Fox News, Sean Hannity opened the show with a clip to Bret Baier reporting on Beshear’s projected victory and the election victory in Ohio.

It was no surprise that Hannity was unwilling to draw any good from the results for the current occupant of the White House. “No matter what happens tonight, Republicans and Democrats now agree: Joe Biden, he’s in big trouble,” Hannity emphasized.

Later Fox News commentator and In the minority Co-host Kayleigh McEnany tried to explain that polls are not votes. “We must recognize that good elections as a party do not always lead to a resounding victory. This should be implemented with a mail-in vote strategy, an early voting strategy, and an out-of-the-vote strategy to increase the very bad numbers for Biden and the very good numbers for Trump. ”

In other races, Yusef Salaam, one of the exonerated Central Park Five, won a seat on the New York City Council. His story was portrayed in the series by Ava DuVernay When they see us.

Source: Deadline

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