Ron Brownstein

Not this time.

That's definitely part of the story. I mean, I think one big part of the story is that voters view the president as the repository of economic policy, and we're not as willing to look past their economic discontent in picking a president as they were a governor or senator. So I think that's part of it. But I agree.

That's definitely part of the story. I mean, I think one big part of the story is that voters view the president as the repository of economic policy, and we're not as willing to look past their economic discontent in picking a president as they were a governor or senator. So I think that's part of it. But I agree.

That's definitely part of the story. I mean, I think one big part of the story is that voters view the president as the repository of economic policy, and we're not as willing to look past their economic discontent in picking a president as they were a governor or senator. So I think that's part of it. But I agree.

And your day-to-day life. You know, look, I mean, before we get to your second point, maybe this does get to your second point. I mean, all year, right, Democratic pollsters and people working in kind of progressive groups would say that every time they did a focus group with –

And your day-to-day life. You know, look, I mean, before we get to your second point, maybe this does get to your second point. I mean, all year, right, Democratic pollsters and people working in kind of progressive groups would say that every time they did a focus group with –

And your day-to-day life. You know, look, I mean, before we get to your second point, maybe this does get to your second point. I mean, all year, right, Democratic pollsters and people working in kind of progressive groups would say that every time they did a focus group with –

black, Latino, or even in some cases, Asian American men, they would say you could not get through an hour and a half without hearing what one described to me as the nightmare phrase. And the nightmare phrase in this focus group was, yeah, he's a pig. He's a racist. He's a misogynist. He says and does things that I don't respect.

black, Latino, or even in some cases, Asian American men, they would say you could not get through an hour and a half without hearing what one described to me as the nightmare phrase. And the nightmare phrase in this focus group was, yeah, he's a pig. He's a racist. He's a misogynist. He says and does things that I don't respect.

black, Latino, or even in some cases, Asian American men, they would say you could not get through an hour and a half without hearing what one described to me as the nightmare phrase. And the nightmare phrase in this focus group was, yeah, he's a pig. He's a racist. He's a misogynist. He says and does things that I don't respect.

But if I'm being honest, I had more money in my pocket at the end of the week when he was president. Right. So that is the universe of voters who, as you say, were more likely to participate in many ways, white ones and non-white ones in the midterm, in the presidential election than in the midterm. And there is definitely a problem Democrats face in that.

But if I'm being honest, I had more money in my pocket at the end of the week when he was president. Right. So that is the universe of voters who, as you say, were more likely to participate in many ways, white ones and non-white ones in the midterm, in the presidential election than in the midterm. And there is definitely a problem Democrats face in that.

But if I'm being honest, I had more money in my pocket at the end of the week when he was president. Right. So that is the universe of voters who, as you say, were more likely to participate in many ways, white ones and non-white ones in the midterm, in the presidential election than in the midterm. And there is definitely a problem Democrats face in that.

Many of these surge voters are now, as you point out, not listening to us today, not tuning in even to Fox or Newsmax. I mean, they're people who are largely avoiding political content and political news. But as I say, they are expert in their own lives.

Many of these surge voters are now, as you point out, not listening to us today, not tuning in even to Fox or Newsmax. I mean, they're people who are largely avoiding political content and political news. But as I say, they are expert in their own lives.

Many of these surge voters are now, as you point out, not listening to us today, not tuning in even to Fox or Newsmax. I mean, they're people who are largely avoiding political content and political news. But as I say, they are expert in their own lives.

And to say that these were voters who drifted toward Trump because they didn't know all the wonderful things Biden has done, which I think I've heard at times, not from you, but from some Democrats, that's not right. I think what was clear, not only for these surge voters, but for a lot of traditional voters, more regular voters, is that Biden's failures eclipsed his successes for them.

And to say that these were voters who drifted toward Trump because they didn't know all the wonderful things Biden has done, which I think I've heard at times, not from you, but from some Democrats, that's not right. I think what was clear, not only for these surge voters, but for a lot of traditional voters, more regular voters, is that Biden's failures eclipsed his successes for them.

And to say that these were voters who drifted toward Trump because they didn't know all the wonderful things Biden has done, which I think I've heard at times, not from you, but from some Democrats, that's not right. I think what was clear, not only for these surge voters, but for a lot of traditional voters, more regular voters, is that Biden's failures eclipsed his successes for them.

And the way they interpreted the Biden economy was inflation.