“While the press and the pundits were predicting a giant red wave,it didn’t happen,” Biden said.
He had framed the election as a test of democracy at a time when hundreds of Republican candidates embraced Trump’s false claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from him.
But as the momentum appeared to shift towards Republicans in the final days of the campaign,Biden and the White House were criticised – including from within their own ranks – for not crafting a more coherent message on the economy to counter the Republicans’ attacks. The primary issue weighing down Democrats was stubbornly high annual inflation,which at 8.2 per cent is the highest rate in 40 years.
However,the president said the result had shown that voters cared about the issues the Democrats had campaigned on,including a broader plan to tackle cost-of-living pressures,such as to lower the price of prescription drugs.
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What’s more,while a number of election deniers who backed Trump’s claims were elected to office,many of those who had sought positions to oversee elections at state and federal levels were defeated.
Fears of violence or major disruption by far-right poll watchers at voting stations did not emerge either. Disturbances at polling places have mostly been limited malfunctions of equipment,confusion about polling hours,and the routine glitches for which America’s sprawling localised electoral system is known.
“It was a good day for democracy and a good day for America,” Biden said,thanking the record number of voters who showed up at the polls,particularly young people. “They sent a clear and unmistakable message that they want to preserve our democracy and protect the right to choose in this country.”
In addition to winning Pennsylvania’s Senate race,Democrats also fended off strong Republican challenges for governor of Michigan and Wisconsin,two states likely to remain battlegrounds in the 2024 presidential race.
But while the president said the Democrats had a “strong night”,he also acknowledged the economic pain voters were feeling and vowed to do what he could to tackle inflation and advance the country’s domestic and foreign interests.
However,he added that he would not support any proposals to make inflation worse,such as making any cuts to social security or Medicare,or hinder women’s reproductive rights.
“I will veto any attempt to pass a national ban on abortion,” he said. “But I’m ready to compromise with Republicans where it makes sense on many other issues,and I’ll always put the needs and interests of the American people first.”
If the Republicans do take control of Congress,it would make it harder for Biden to deliver on his policy agenda. It also could pave the way for a series of inquiries previously flagged by Republicans,such as a probe into the alleged “weaponisation” of the Justice Department or an inquiry into the financial dealings of the president’s son,Hunter Biden.
The current House Speaker,Democrat Nancy Pelosi – whose husbandwas brutally attacked with a hammer in the latest example of political violence in America – would probably be replaced by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.
Republican Kevin McCarthy is poised to become next House Speaker.Credit:Bloomberg
Republicans have flagged plans to seek cost savings in the popular Social Security and Medicare retirement and healthcare programs run by the government. They also want to make permanent expiring tax cuts under a partisan 2017 law enacted by Republicans.
At the same time,they have said they want to undo Biden’s major achievements addressing climate change and prevent possible efforts to expand social programs to include childcare subsidies so more parents can hold jobs,for example.