Washington Examiner, November 2021
The White House is rejigging its strategy after shocking Virginia and New Jersey gubernatorial races earlier this month, one year before the 2022 midterm elections. Biden has spent the first year of his presidency promising to”Build Back Better.” But Virginia Democratic nominee Terry McAuliffe’s surprise defeat and incumbent Gov. Phil Murphy’s nail-biting reelection campaign have the president reevaluating the tactic, instead returning to basics by focusing on families.
Republican strategist Alex Conant was not surprised by the White House’s family first maneuver, particularly after the Virginia election, as they try to undercut Republican gains. Roughly 85% of respondents told CNN exit pollsters parents should have “a lot” or “some” input in their child’s curriculum after McAuliffe said during his September debate against Republican Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin that he didn’t “think parents should be telling schools what they should teach.” Education was the No. 1 issue for almost one-quarter of respondents, second behind the economy and jobs, which one-third listed as their top issue.
