While democracy is on the ballot Nov.8, it may not be Democrats' winning issue

 While whether we think continuing our democracy is an issue that ought to be the most important issue at stake on November 8, midterms because it is fundamental to how we will be governed and who has a say in any public policy issues in the future, it may not be the Democrats' winning issue. A powerful single issue that will mobilize a wider and more passionate turnout on behalf of Democratic Party candidates up and down the midterm ballot is the extreme restriction of women's rights to control their destiny and reproduction choices, the overturn of Roe v Wade by the Supreme court and the criminalization of women for violating the most extreme legislation by over half of the states. The Democratic Party sees this as their best opportunity to keep the House and Senate blue to pass legislation that would put into a law that protects a woman's right to choose similar to the standards observed for 50 years in Roe v Wade. Democrats smell blog. They have begun focusing their advertising in swing states to bring to the attention the GOP candidates who are supporting the most extreme legislation, NY Times compilation of Democratic party ads re: choice   Recent polls show 57% of all Americans opposed the overturning of Roe v Wade and 52% of states with restrictive laws on women's choice.  PP_2022.07.06_Roe-v-Wade_REPORT.pdf (pewresearch.org)        Democracy is the single top issue for 21%; jobs, economy, and cost of living combined are still top.  Since Roe v Wade overturned, Democrats, close the enthusiasm gap signaling the issue is will motivate Democratic turnout in November.     NBC August Poll shows increase concern for democracy

 Particularly angering to women is criminalizing a woman and a maturing child who seeks relief from being forced to carry a fetus to birth that is the result of rape and incest. They also resent that some government entity has made the decision for them that if their life is at risk because of a pregnancy, their life is not important;" Pro-life" is an extremely narrow view of what life is when it only applies to the fetus' that has not reached viability, but that is the radical position of those behind the end of Roe v Wade and supporting the resulting legislation in over half of the states..   It is not just women who are affected. The choice of dads and family members of whether they have a say about such choices in the case of incest and rape of their minor daughters is also taken away from them and given to the government.  

Republicans are relying on cultural, racial, and inflation issues to offset the fallout from Roe v Wade overturn and their extremist state legislation to win back the House and control the levers of the election process.   The key to opinions about inflation is whether gas prices at the pump go up and go down. The worse it is, the more the GOP benefits.  Members of my family, GOP voters, are now reporting the cost of gas to fill their tanks is going down in our area  That is true in the US in general; though it is not a given, it will continue that way into November. Nonetheless, it is shaky ground for a politician to rely on either side of the partisan aisle. Gas prices are falling — Here's why it's happening and whether it can continue (cnbc.com).