Del Beccaro: The three mountains in the way of any Democrat comeback
Trump’s 2025 election victory was resounding and, it appears, realigning. The Democrats, for their part, are engaging in a rather public autopsy of their misfortune. While almost all claims that a party will be in the wilderness for years to come are exaggerations, there are at least three major mountains in the way of any realignment back in the Democrats’ favor.
First, it must be said that Trump’s triumph and the Democrats’ loss has much to do with the economy. Yes, there were other factors such as immigration, crime and cultural issues. Even so, it was economy that was at the center of this election.
Beyond the polling that indicated it was the number one issue, the following – astonishing – economic fact played no small role:
After the inflation of 2021 through 2023, as reported by GOBankingRates in January, 2024, “nearly half of Americans have less than $500 in savings – and almost 60% of Americans have less than $1000 saved up.”
Now combine that with the record credit card debt of many of those same people and there is no other conclusion to be made but that a huge percentage of Americans are living on the margin. They voted their dwindling pocket book over social justice pleas.
Prior to government response to Covid, wages had risen under Trump by 7.1%. Adjusting for inflation, they fell under Biden.
Little wonder over 70% said on Election Day the country was headed in the wrong direction.
As for the mountains the Democrats face, they are as follows:
Mountain # 1. The Democrats are a “government first” party.
