Biden must first beat the pandemic to keep Republicans out of power
CNN
If Democrats are to avoid a far more devastating election night next year than they suffered on Tuesday, they must finally defeat the pandemic from which so much economic pain and voter angst flow.
The victory of Republican Glenn Youngkin in the Virginia governor's race and a huge swing against New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy -- who won reelection, CNN projected Wednesday, in a closer-than-expected race -- reflect a desperate political environment for Democrats.
They have a heap of problems other than the pandemic. Youngkin's move on their strongholds in the suburbs could spell disaster in the midterm elections if repeated countrywide. Democrats have struggled to address many voters' concerns on education and immigration while failing to properly sell or even pass their generational social spending plan to electrify their base. And as Tuesday shows, turning every issue into an argument that Republicans are wallowing in the racism and extremism of former President Donald Trump won't resonate when voters are upset or angry and he is, at least for the next three years, out of office.