Sen. Manchin: Inflation, not abortion, will drive midterm elections

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• Sen. Joe Manchin believes it is not abortion that will be the fueling factor in the coming midterm elections.
• Manchin said the midterm results will likely be defined by two dominant factors —the economy and the 40-year-high inflation.
• The Democrat senator says, “Inflation is the number one driving factor.”

Sen. Joe Manchin doesn’t think the Democrats’ efforts to make the November midterm elections about abortion will work.

The centrist Democrat told reporters Tuesday while inside the Capitol, that the driving issue of the coming campaign would be the economy and soaring inflation.

“Inflation is the No. 1 driving factor,” the West virginia Democrat said. “I believe in my state right now it’s hurting everybody. Not just at the [gas] pumps. But at the grocery stores. At the pharmacy — everything people do.”

The senator argued that while there are Americans who would be furious if the Supreme Court were to overturn Roe v. Wade, it would unlikely shape the midterm results as voters are more concerned about kitchen table issues.

“Follow the money,” he said.

Manchin’s comments come as nearly all Democrats have publicly denounced the Supreme Court’s poised invalidation of Roe v Wade, a 1973 ruling that legalized abortion in the U.S.

On Monday night, the draft opinion was leaked from the Supreme Court. Democrats have scrambled to mobilize abortion activists since then.

“Elections this November will have consequences because the rights of 100 million women are now on the ballot,” said Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer. “To help fight this court’s awful decision, I urge every American to make their voices heard. “

Several Democrats are hoping the Supreme Court’s opinion draft backlash will be enough to cover up the “souring economic picture” and President Joe Biden’s dropping approval ratings.

Source: The Washington Times