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WE HAVE ASSERTED FOR THE PAST YEAR that Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear is the most intriguing new Democrat — bright, likable, young (45 years old) and most importantly, he’s a moderate who appeals to Republicans and centrists. Beshear won re-election yesterday in one of the most conservative states in the nation, home to Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul.
BESHEAR ALMOST CERTAINLY will run for president in 2028, although many Democrats would be thrilled if he made a late entry in the 2024 race. We think he will wait , , , probably.
LAST NIGHT’S ELECTION RESULTS had two other major take-aways: There was a stunning repudiation of Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who had considered jumping into the presidential race. Democrats not only maintained a narrow majority in Virginia’s state Senate but they also flipped the House of Delegates, delivering a major blow to Youngkin’s agenda. His presidential prospects have plunged.
THE BIG REASON for last night’s results was a public sense that the Republicans have become too radical on abortion restrictions. Proponents of abortion rights won fairly easily in Ohio, still another state to reject strict Republican restrictions on the procedure.
THERE ARE STILL SOME ISSUES where Republicans have political traction — urban crime, illegal immigration, food and gasoline inflation, etc. But the inevitable post-mortem between now and Thanksgiving will focus on the GOP’s inability to gauge public opinion on abortion. In state after state — even conservative states — there’s an uprising over strict abortion curbs.
BESHEAR’S VICTORY COMES AS MORE POLLS, including one by CNN, show Biden losing the general election to Donald Trump. Panicky Democrats in this city are asking whether they should send a delegation to the White House, respectfully asking Biden to drop out for the good of the party. It’s doubtful that Biden would agree — but Democrats now have the Beshear template that apparently works in states like Kentucky.
AND TO REITERATE: Beshear is 45 years old, Trump is 77 and Biden turns 81 later this month. The voters want change — and here comes a new star who deserves a second look in the next few weeks.
Related: Is Robert F. Kennedy Jr. A Factor in the Presidential Election?
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