Less Than 100 Days To Go: The Midterm Elections Will Make Or Break Obama
Today marks less than 100 days until the 2014 midterms elections. These elections will be absolutely crucial, as they will have an enormous impact on what President Obama is able to accomplish during the last two years of his presidency.
Coincidentally, yesterday not only marked 100 days until the midterms, but also the tenth anniversary of Obama’s monumental speech at the Democratic National Convention in 2004.
The speech, which set Obama on the path toward the presidency, laid the foundation for his hope-instilled campaign in 2008.
Now, 10 years later, much of that hope seems a distant memory. Obama continues to struggle to make headway domestically and is constantly criticized for his somewhat disengaged foreign policy.
It should be noted, however, that Obama continues to receive relatively high global approval ratings, despite any discontent within the US.
If Republicans win back a majority in the Senate this November, it will have reverberating consequences not only for President Obama but also for the future of the Democratic Party in general.
Republicans need to win back six seats and lose none in order to accomplish this.
Such a scenario would be a disaster for president Barack Obama. If Democrats are defeated in November the White House will be left isolated. Republicans already control the House of Representatives; if they capture the Senate, too, Obama will be left all but powerless to affect change through Congress during his last two years in office.
Essentially, if the Democratic Party loses the Senate, President Obama would basically become a lame duck, ineffectual and secluded. This could create discontentment with the Democratic Party, and lead to the election of a Republican president in 2016.
It is no secret that President Obama made substantial promises during his inspiring campaign in 2008.
As his approval ratings continue to suffer, even those who voted for him are beginning to feel that he has failed to accomplish much of what he promised six years ago.
Debatably, not all of that is his fault. President Obama has faced an extraordinarily obstinate legislature throughout his tenure. He has been unable to make major changes surrounding hotbed issues such as gun control and immigration.
However, he has not been a total failure. Despite substantial mishaps with HealthCare.Gov, Obamacare has largely been a success. According to a study completed by the federal government and Harvard University, about 10.3 million Americans have gained health coverage this year, largely as a product of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).
With that said, it is unlikely that President Obama will continue to experience success in any capacity if Republicans win back the Senate.
Many of the predictions surrounding the elections are favorable for the GOP, as they are fighting for seats in conservative states.
As Cameron Joseph notes for The Hill,
Republicans are heavily favored to pick off seats of retiring Democrats in West Virginia and South Dakota, and appointed Sen. John Walsh’s (D-Mont.) recent plagiarism scandal has likely doomed his already-uphill race.
Thus, it goes without saying, for those who wish to see Obama succeed during his final years in office, there is no excuse not to get out and vote in November. Voting is the most essential activity in the democratic process, a right and a privilege.
Young voters particularly could have a tremendous influence over the outcome of these elections because they make up a substantial portion of the populace.
As a recent article from the Guardian notes, a majority of Millennials have a strong disdain for conservatives. Accordingly, if more Millennials vote, this could be very good for the Democratic Party and President Obama.
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