Christian Datoc of the Washington Examiner explores potential political implications of the Biden administration’s current woes.
A number of recent signs suggest that former President Donald Trump’s influence is beginning to wane among key factions of his base, but Democratic squabbles over President Joe Biden’s dual infrastructure proposals could give him a new lease on life heading into the midterm elections and beyond.
Trump’s No. 1 issue since leaving office has been auditing the results of the 2020 election. However, the audit carried out by Arizona’s Republican-controlled state Senate, made public Friday, not only confirmed Biden’s win over Trump, but actually expanded his margin of victory.
Furthermore, a straw poll published over the weekend by the Detroit News showed Trump’s influence waning among Michigan Republican voters. …
… Still, three senior Democratic officials told the Washington Examiner that failing to pass the $1.2 trillion bipartisan physical infrastructure proposal and the $3.5 trillion “human” infrastructure budget reconciliation package will effectively guarantee that Democrats lose majorities in both chambers of Congress, something Trump will almost certainly take credit for and use to restrengthen his hold over the GOP.
“That’s the worst-case scenario,” one official stated. “The president’s been in office for nearly a year, and at this point, Trump’s popularity is flatlining. Giving him literally anything to hang his hat on would reenergize Republicans heading into a crucial election for our country’s future, especially as we’re still fighting to get the pandemic under control.”
A number of Democratic officials previously voiced similar sentiments to the Washington Examiner, claiming that Democratic congressional leaders wouldn’t hold up the bill over minor disagreements due to concerns about the election. …
… Trump himself has vociferously attacked the infrastructure bills, Republican Senators who supported the bipartisan package, and Biden’s legislative agenda at large.
On Monday, Trump released a statement claiming, “Republicans in the Senate have the cards, including political cards, to stop the onslaught of Democrat Legislation that will further lead to the destruction of the United States.”