Pa. Democrats hope abortion rights energize inflation-weary voters to stifle red wave – PennLive

Inflation is high. Joe Bidens approval ratings are low. And midterm elections historically favor the political party out of power.

No wonder some faithful Democrat voters who soldiered to the polls for a party primary lacking in drama at the top of the ticket admitted to already worrying over their political prospects this November. This is the so-called red wave many are predicting at the polls this fall.

I am concerned with inflation and the massive spending that Democrats sort of pushed, conceded Jeff Dickison of Harrisburg, who cast his 2016 vote for Trump only to switch parties in 2020.

A lot of people are blaming Biden for this inflation and these problems, he said. I think there is a little bit more to it than that. Im going to see it through another cycle and see how we come out of it. Ill probably vote Democrat (John) Fetterman and (Josh) Shapiro in the fall.

One wild card that could re-order the general election and the issues that hold sway with voters is the impending U.S. Supreme Court decision that could strike down Roe v. Wade and leave the legality of abortion up to each state.

A lot of people are hoping the pending Supreme Court decision will bring out Democrats, said party voter Alissa Packer of Camp Hill.

It will also turn some moderate Republican who favor a womans right to choose and get them out to vote, she added. Hopefully, that will turn around that prediction that whoever is in office will lose the House.

Indeed, the abortion issue could be particularly potent in state politics, where whos sitting in the governors mansion and in the state legislature could determine a womans right to choose in Pa., according to Democrat Colleen Nguyen of Lower Allen Township.

It matters, especially for governor, she said. Gov. Wolf has been a backstop for a lot of terrible legislation. It matters for state house and senate, also.

One of the biggest beneficiaries could be state Attorney General Josh Shapiro and his bid to stretch the Democrats hold on the governors mansion to three consecutive terms, after Tom Wolf leaves office in January.

Josh has been so strong (on abortion) his entire career. I think a lot of people will be fired-up just to vote for Josh, said Nguyen, who added the fallout from the issue could trickle down-ballot from there.

I think thats something we need to talk about, she said. If we flip the legislature, we can save our reproductive rights.

Some die-hard Democrats didnt seem worried at all, despite the dire issues and dipping poll numbers for beleaguered Biden. His is a big job, after all. And doing it right takes time, said Harrisburg Democrat Linda McClendon.

I feel good about the Democrats, she said. When he came into power, Biden had a job. He had to clean up a mess, as far as Im concerned. It takes time. You cant get in somewhere and wave a wand. Change takes time.

The clock is ticking, however. And the real test will come in November.

Stay with PennLive throughout primary election day for the latest news from central Pa. polling places.

And when the polls close at 8 p.m., stick with PennLive for real-time results as your ballot is counted and vote totals roll in, precinct by precinct, from all across Pennsylvania.

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Pa. Democrats hope abortion rights energize inflation-weary voters to stifle red wave - PennLive