Well here we are in April and the 2018 mid-term primary elections are just around the corner.
As usual that means its time for Dr. Chris Borick, Muhlenberg College Political Science professor and director of the college’s Institute of Public Opinion to look into his crystal ball and help us make sense of it all. At Friday’s ARC meeting he gave us his take on the subject.
First Borick pointed out that in any given year it is normal for the party with a first term president in the White House to lose seats in Congress.
“The winds are at the backs of the Democrats,” he noted. “You have a president whose popularity is not high,” Borick said. When that happens, he feels Democrat or Republican, it makes it tough to win seats. For Pennsylvania this year it is possible that anywhere from 5 to 6 Congressional seats could change hands.
The fact that President Trump is such a polarizing figure will almost certainly play a role at all levels of the election, Borick feels. Particularly he points to the Senate race where incumbent Democrat Bob Casey is running.
Borick points out that Trump has been pushing for Lou Barletta, one of his strongest supporters in Congress to run for the Republican Senate nomination to take on Casey. The coal region vote could be all important, Borick seems to feel.
In what amounted to a political earthquake for the Lehigh Valley long time Republican Congressmen Charlie Dent decided not to run. (Dent is pictured at left at a recent Rotary meeting.) A popular figure across the political spectrum Dent’s absence makes it possible for Democrats to gain the seat. But disagreements within party may prevent it. Borick also discussed the Governor’s race.
A spirited question and answer period followed.
