US midterm polls, a proxy war between Biden and Trump

Tomorrow's midterm elections in the USA is a referendum on how the Americans are assessing the two-year presidency of Joe Biden and the slim Democrat control of both the Senate and the House. California, New York, and the State of Washington, are course, die-hard Democrat states but there are so many states where the Democratic bets are gasping for breath. In many other states, where the incumbents are Democrats, the surveys show that the contests are too close to call.

The American voters are putting the blame on President Biden: the runaway inflation, the high prices of gas, the worsening unemployment, the invasion of illegal immigrants from the southern backdoors, and the rising incidence of crimes. Many voters are also critical of Biden's handling of foreign affairs. Most of the Americans believe that Biden is often outsmarted by Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, North Korea's Kim Jong-un, and Ebrahim Raisi of Iran. They see Biden as too slow in his moves and decisions. Trump is less likeable as a person but he managed the economy well, and he was smarter than the other world leaders. Trump is poised to challenge Biden for a return bout in 2024.

These midterm polls are therefore crucial and the stakes are too high for both Democrats and Republicans and 20 million voters have already turned in their advanced voting ballots by mail. And that could be bad news for Biden and the Dems. In Pennsylvania, Democratic bet John Fetterman is facing a serious challenge by Republican Mehmet Oz for the Senate. The Democratic bets for governor is Josh Shapiro who might lose to Republican Dough Mastriano, and for lieutenant governor Austin Davis who is running neck in neck against GOP's Carrie Del Rosso. In 2020, Biden won here with 50% of the votes over Trump's respectable 48.8%. In 2016, Trump won here with 48.6% over Hillary Clinton's 47.9%. This is a crucial battleground state.

In Georgia, incumbent black senator, Democrat R. Warnock is being challenged by another black multi-millionaire, GOP's H. Walker for the Senate. Black woman human rights leader Democratic Stacy Abrams is challenging the super-rich Republican governor B. Kemp and the fight is too close to call. For secretary of state, female Vietnamese-American Bee Nguyen, a Democrat, is challenging the incumbent Republican incumbent R. Raffensperger. And female Democrat Jennifer Jordan is running against incumbent Republican C. Carr for attorney-general. The Democrats in Georgia are in all-out offensive against the Trump-supported GOP bets. Georgia was captured by the Democrats in 2022 but only for the Senate seats. This is another deciding battle arena.

In Arizona, incumbent Democrat Senator M. Kelly faces a serious challenge by Republican's B. Masters. Two women are slugging it out for governor. Democrat Karie Hobbs and GOP's Kari Lake. In Wisconsin, Democrat Mandela Barnes is giving the Republican incumbent senator R. Johnson a run for his money. Incumbent Democrat governor is being challenged by GOP's Tim Michels. In Nevada, the incumbent lady senator, C. Cortez Mastro is a Democrat but she is facing a strong challenger, Republican Adam Laxalt. The incumbent Democrat Governor Sisolak is being challenged by a much wealthier Joe Lombardo. The issues are the same, inflation, crimes, immigration, high prices, and the gloom over the economic horizon.

These midterm polls are very crucial because the control of both chambers of Congress could hang on the results. Also whichever is the party that could get more governors will have a strong advantage in the 2024 presidential polls. If Kari Lake wins as governor of Nevada, Trump's chances for a comeback will get a major boost. Lake used to be a famous TV news anchor and is sending jitters at the campaign of Katie Hobbs, a brilliant incumbent secretary of state. GOP's Mark Finchem, a rabid Trump supporter who was alleged to have joined the infamous Capitol siege, is running a close contest against a very professional and upright lawyer and top election official, Adrian Fontes, a Democrat.

The midterm polls is really a proxy fight between the ageing incumbent Joe Biden and the much-maligned, beleaguered, and controversial Donald Trump.