Republicans seem to have lost the big lead they had on the generic congressional ballot earlier in the summer, and the situation looks even worse when one examines individual Senate races; the GOP is losing key contests.
What is going on?
1. Democrats are mad: the Dobbs decision reversing Roe v. Wade has energized female voters; the Uvalde decision is motivating gun control enthusiasts; and some Republicans are proposing some weird policies.
2. Biden is doing better: the Al-Zawahiri killing; the falling gas prices; the new spending bill; modest gun reforms; and good jobs reports are all adding up to a fairly good summer for Biden, even with two quarters of economic contraction.
3. Trump is the issue: Democrats have used the January 6 Committee and other investigations to keep Trump in the headlines. That has rallied the GOP (see the Mar-a-Lago raid), but it has also rallied wavering Democrats.
4. Republicans aren't talking about issues: the GOP is stuck on Trump, too, and can't find a credible message on inflation. Meanwhile, as Tucker Carlson notes, they aren't talking about the border crisis or crime or "woke" education.
5. Individual candidates: This is the Mitch McConnell excuse, but it's got some legs. The GOP has some lemons: in Pennsylvania, Dr. Oz is losing to a guy who is basically an extremist (and a racist) and who is not healthy enough to serve.
It's still early yet, but without determined leadership from Republicans, a good opportunity to take the Senate is going to slip away, and gains in the House may also disappear. It's like the Tea Party year of 2010 all over again.
Today's episode is devoted to the second anniversary of the October 7 terror attacks. It was produced before the announcement of a ceasefire deal, yet remains current & relevant.
Please listen, and #bringthemhome.
SiriusXM Patriot 125, 7-10 p.m. ET (4-7 PT)
This week's portion is a beautiful poem, containing the Covenant between God and the people of Israel. But given the breaking news that Hamas may actually have agreed to release all of the Israeli hostages, I will devote my remarks to that.
One hopes it is true; if so, it makes this week's additional reading, from II Samuel 22, even more relevant: David's song of praise to the Lord for delivering him from the hand of his enemies.
"18 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from my foes, who were too strong for me.
19 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
but the Lord was my support."
So much to focus on this week -- and much breaking news. A peace deal in the Middle East, perhaps? Eric Adams dropping out of the mayor's race? And a looming shutdown as Democrats push their demands beyond absurdity.
Special guests:
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