Republicans shrug off rolling scandals to win in Atlanta in blow to Democrats’ morale
The Republicans have shrugged off scandal to deliver an election blow to the Democrats. Photo: Getty
A special election in Atlanta, Georgia is the latest election victory for President Donald Trump and the Republican Party.
Mr Trump promised he would win so much, his side would be sick of it – but after the latest win, he was quick to rub his opponents’ noses in the smell of defeat.
The loss came despite Democrats spending $US30 million ($39.6 million) – the Republicans also spent big – trying to take advantage of the Trump administration’s rocky start to steal the traditionally Republican seat.
While news of the rolling scandals and three live inquiries into allegations of coordination between Mr Trump’s team and Russia are huge news inside the Beltway, Americans elsewhere may not be paying as much attention.
The Republicans are up 4-0 in special elections since the inauguration and, while they are all in Republican strongholds, Democrats thought they were in with a shot.
The most recent loss before Atalanta came despite a major scandal engulfing their opponent on election eve.
A Republican candidate in Montana was charged with misdemeanour assault, after allegedly body-slamming a reporter, but still won the prize of a seat in Congress.
In April, in Kansas, in the first contested seat since the inauguration, another Republican candidate held off a Democrat to secure another congressional win.
There is a lot of noise coming out of the White House — but is it just that at the moment?
The daily rolling scandals are so widely reported, it would be hard to escape even at Point Nemo – the most remote place on Earth and a dumping ground for returning space craft.
Mr Trump celebrated the second house win by chiding the media, saying it was considered a test of the early days of his presidency until his candidate emerged victorious.
Republicans currently hold both the House and the Senate, but infighting has marred their ability to pass legislation.
It is certainly morale-sapping for Democrats who still have not figured out how to secure a win over Mr Trump.
Influential voices like former vice president Joe Biden believe the Democrats still have not heeded the lessons of last year’s loss and continue to ignore working class voters.
“When was the last time you heard us talk about those people?” Mr Biden asked a rally – an extraordinary question for a former leader to ask a party that once considered itself the natural home of the worker.
Some Democrats have called the resistance to Mr Trump electric. But if they cannot transform that energy into wins, it will further demoralise a party still reeling from a White House loss it did not see coming.
– ABC