Donna Brazile, a long-time Democratic operative and ABC News contributor, was given a lesson on why her party may lose both the House of Congress and the Senate in today’s midterm election. Chris Christie, the former Governor of New Jersey, stated that inflation and crime are the only issues that voters are interested, while Democrats are more interested in discussing abortion and threats to democracy.
Christie said, “And when a party doesn’t talk about the things voters are talking about it usually means it [the elections] is moving away.”
Brazile was reminded by George Stephanopoulos (an ex-White House operative and Clinton campaign candidate) that the current landscape was not encouraging. “Democrats face historic headwinds. The ‘inside’ party loses when inflation is high and President’s approval rating drops.
Brazile claimed that Democrats were “so excited about this election ….We have a historic turnout.” Republicans are running on blue smoke, mirrors, and promises to give them something if they vote for me.
This is what Christie was looking for: “They vote on what Democrats have given to them, not what Republicans might give to them. They have received 40-years of high inflation, rising crime rates, and a border that allows fentanyl to be brought in at record levels. This is having a real effect on families across the country. This is not a referendum against Republicans. This is what happened in 2018. This is a referendum about Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, and the leadership of Democratic party.”
Here’s the key part of the exchange. Also, see the transcript below the video.
ABC’s Good Morning America
November 8, 2022 at 7:35 AM ET
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS : Let’s call Chris Christie and Donna Brazile, Republicans or Democrats, our political experts. Chris, you were out campaigning across the country during these midterms. What can we expect tonight?
CHRIS CHRISTIE, Former Governor of New Jersey: George, I have felt a movement towards Republicans in the last ten-days. It’s not because of who they are voting for, but what they’re talking to. They are talking about crime and inflation. These are the only two issues that I have heard voters talk about in states I’ve visited. In Colorado particularly, inflation is up over 15% in Colorado. They are feeling it. In those states, I believe – those are the issues that Democrats have been reluctant to talk about. They are more interested in talking to abortion and about threats to democracy. If a party doesn’t talk about the same things voters are talking about it usually means that it is moving away from them.
STEPHANOPOULOS : Donna, Democrats face historic headwinds. The ‘inside’ party loses when inflation is high and President’s approval rating drops.
DONNA BRAZILE, former DNC Chairwoman: George, we all know that Democrats must overcome the odds. But what we don’t know is that Democrats are so excited about this election. They are excited because they know the stakes of this election. We are seeing a historic turnout. While we may have had more voters turn out in some cases over the past four years, here’s what voters know. They know that Democrats have plans to lower prescription drug prices …. They have plans to fight inflation and lower gas prices. Republicans are running on blue smoke, you know, “I’ll promise you something if I vote for you.” Democrats know how to create jobs and how to invest in the future. What you’ll see today is historic voter turnout, not only in the so-called battleground states, but also in traditional states that don’t allow voters to vote.
CHRISTIE : George, the problem is that they vote on what Democrats have given to them and not what Republicans might give to them. They have received 40-years of high inflation, rising crime rates, and a border that allows fentanyl to be brought across in record numbers. This is having a real impact upon families across the country. This is not a referendum against Republicans. This is what happened in 2018. This is what happened in 2018.
BRAZILE – Over 10 million jobs have been created. I don’t think anyone is complaining about the creation of these jobs. They aren’t complaining about the economic investments we made. All the positive things that Republican governors are campaigning on, you know, the American people don’t want to give the keys to those who tried to enter the House and destroy democracy. This is why abortion is so important.
CHRISTIE : You keep talking to me about that.
BRAZILE – It’s on the ballots in five states.
CHRISTIE: What they really need is three of the 10 million jobs that Joe Biden has to provide for their milk and eggs. That’s the problem. Look at it in terms of –
BRAZILE: Oh. He’s now a grocery clerk.
CHRISTIE: Do you know who he is? I love his Twitter feed because Vladimir Putin was responsible for the rise in gas prices. Joe Biden is responsible for gas prices falling. He can’t be selective like that. It is well-known by the American people.
The Apple iPhone14 brought Donna Brazile’s education to the Election Day GMA.
