‘Faltering Economy’ behind Surge of Republicans: American Scholar

TEHRAN (IQNA) – An American professor says the surge of Republicans in the US is because of the country’s “faltering domestic economy and ranging inflation.”

In an interview with IQNA, Thomas J. Whalen, an Associate Professor of Social Science at Boston University, refers to recent elections in the US and domestic politics of the US.

Here is the full text of the interview:

IQNA: What is the political situation of the Democratic and Republican parties in the Midterm elections?

Whalen: The Republicans are surging as a result of a faltering domestic economy and raging inflation. They have also taken on a radical hue embracing far-right conspiracy theories, disinformation and violence.

The Democrats, in a word, are a mess. They are finding it difficult to come up with a counter political narrative.

IQNA: In the US presidential election, we saw that racial and religious minorities, such as Muslims, played an important role. Do you think this is still important in the midterm elections or not?

Whalen: Yes, but the biggest swing vote will be Latino voters who appear to breaking for Republican candidates in key swing state races like Arizona.

IQNA: What is the status of the candidates of social and religious minorities in this election and how high are their chances of winning in this election?

Whalen: Very high depending on whether their states or electoral districts trend toward a decidedly red or blue hue.

IQNA: Some believe that the chances of the Republican Party in this election are high due to the poor performance of Joe Biden's government in domestic and foreign affairs. How true is this?

Whalen: I take issue with the characterization that Biden has submitted a poor performance. He has done as well to be expected with the Covid relief and infrastructure improvement programs and the Inflation Reduction Act in domestic affairs. He also pulled the US out of the Forever Wars of the Middle East and reunited NATO in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

IQNA: What is your prediction of the result of this election?

Whalen: Republicans take the House while the Senate is too close to call.

Interview By Mohammad Hassan Goodarzi