As the election season enters the final month, campaigns are heating up (as are the attacks from both sides). I’m fairly certain you are all ready to have this election in the rearview mirror, given that Wisconsin is one of a handful of states that the presidential campaigns are focusing on.
There have been a few developments in recent days that could have an impact on the election that I’d like to point out.
The former president, Donald Trump, was hit this week with the unveiling of a 165 page report by special counsel Jack Smith. Smith is the special counsel in the 2020 election interference case. This report provides the most detailed look at the evidence Smith alleges shows the lengths the former president took to remain in office following his defeat in November of 2020. What is unknown at this point is whether or not that will have much of an impact on voters’ opinions of the former president.
Vice President Harris is also facing some headwinds heading into the election. The federal government’s response to the aftermath of Hurricane Helene is coming under scrutiny, with some questioning the effectiveness of the response. There is also a growing crisis in the middle east that threatens to destabilize the region even further, which could result in higher oil prices and possible involvement of American forces. Inflation, while down from its highs, could reignite with the strike of nearly 50,000 port workers. This strike could lead to major supply chain issues, which we already suffered through during the COVID-19 crisis of 2020. Any prolonged disruption in the supply chain could lead to another spike in inflation.
Here in Wisconsin, the Marquette University Law Poll came out this week. It showed Vice President Harris with a 4 point lead, but that remains within the poll’s 4.4% margin of error. This result mirrored the last MU Law Poll from a month ago. Recent events will begin showing up in polling done in the coming weeks. What does all of this mean for Wisconsin? Buckle up, it is going to be a very long month ahead.
by Jim Steineke, Government Affairs & Advocacy
