Numbers

By Zamboni

A recent CNN poll showed the midterms to be kind of a wash between the two major political parties. Hey — aren't the Republicans supposed to be romping to victory this year? We're not seeing it.

Although the economy and inflation loom large, it seems clear that the last couple of months have put a real dent in GOP support. Roe v. Wade, gun massacres in schools and supermarkets, January 6 — and now, since we're all baking in the heat, climate change — have switched things up. With, no doubt, more to come between now and November.

One number jumps out: The drop in support for the Republican Party among seniors. In May, voters 65+ favored the GOP, 62 to 37 percent. Now, it's 49 percent for the Democrats, 47 for the Republicans.

Surely a lot of this is the Roe decimation, plus everything else. But don't forget that Florida's first Martian Governor-now-Senator, Rick Scott, who chairs the Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee, has been all over the airwaves, promising to end Social Security and Medicare in five years. That seems to be getting through to people. Why the Republicans think this is a winning message is a mystery to us.

Add in most GOP leaders' general lack of appeal — from Trump to McConnell to McCarthy to DeSantis and Jordan/Gaetz/Gomert/Greene/Gosar/Stefanik/Boebert, et. al. — and one can't help but think that people are getting tired of the show. Tired enough to buck historical trends? It's certainly possible. We cats PURR.