The Virginia Barometer

Published in El Pais
(Spain) on 6 November 2021
by José M. de Areilza (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Stephen Routledge. Edited by Michelle Bisson.
Many believe Kamala Harris has outgrown her current role.

The beginning of the end of Joe Biden's presidency may have been the election of Republican Glenn Youngkin as governor of Virginia. This territory has long been divided in two and is a good barometer of where the country is headed. The suburbs of the cities and the strip bordering Washington, D.C., vote Democratic. In the vicinity of the capital, an ecosystem of technology and defense companies, universities and entrepreneurs has been created that has no need to envy Silicon Valley’s thriving economy. The rest of Virginia tends to be more conservative. The Republicans there are in the majority and can even be distinguished by the way they dress. Despite the ravages of the pandemic, many are proud not to wear masks.

Youngkin has no previous political experience whatsoever. He was a standout basketball player in college and later a successful investor. He represents the Republican sector most favorable to the free market. Although blessed by Donald Trump, he has acted with certain autonomy in relation to the undisputed head of the party. He has attracted numerous Democratic voters concerned about issues such as the tepid economic recovery, the failure of the COVID-19 vaccination process, the imposition in schools of radical theories on systemic racism and the Afghanistan fiasco.

At this point, Biden can't even argue that he is starting to deliver on the key promise he came to the White House with, which was to unite the country. He has a worse popularity rating (42%) than Bill Clinton or Barack Obama before they lost congressional elections. The president has devoted his best efforts to negotiating with Democratic legislators to pass his infrastructure bill. All politics is local, hence America's refusal at the Glasgow summit to limit its use of coal. The widespread feeling is that Kamala Harris has outgrown her current role and is not a viable candidate for 2024. Democrats are beginning to fear that her political renaissance in Washington will be short-lived and last even less time than this presidency.


El barómetro de Virginia

Muchos creen que a Kamala Harris le queda grande su actual puesto

Es posible que el principio del fin de la presidencia Biden haya sido la elección del republicano Glenn Youngkin como gobernador de Virginia. Este territorio vive desde hace tiempo escindido en dos mitades y es un buen barómetro para detectar hacia dónde evoluciona el país. Los suburbios de las ciudades y la franja que limita con Washington D.C. votan demócrata. En la vecindad de la capital se ha creado un ecosistema de empresas tecnológicas y de defensa, universidades y emprendedores que no tiene nada que envidiar a la pujanza de Silicon Valley. El resto de Virginia tiende a ser más conservador. Los republicanos ahí son mayoría y se les distingue incluso por la forma de vestir. A pesar de los estragos de la pandemia, muchos están orgullosos de no llevar mascarilla.

El nuevo gobernador Youngkin no tenía experiencia política alguna. Fue un destacado jugador de baloncesto en la universidad y luego un exitoso inversor. Representa al sector republicano más favorable al libre mercado. Aunque bendecido por Donald Trump, ha actuado con cierta autonomía respecto al jefe indiscutible del partido. Ha atraído a numerosos votantes demócratas, preocupados por asuntos como la tibia recuperación económica, el fracaso de la vacunación contra el Covid-19, la imposición de teorías radicales en las escuelas sobre racismo estructural y el fiasco de Afganistán. A estas alturas, Joe Biden ni siquiera puede argumentar que empieza a cumplir la principal promesa con la que llegó a la Casa Blanca, unir al país. Tiene peor índice de popularidad que Bill Clinton o Barack Obama antes de que perdiesen las elecciones legislativas, un 42%. El presidente dedica sus mejores esfuerzos a negociar con legisladores demócratas para aprobar su legislación sobre infraestructuras. Toda la política es local y de ahí el frenazo de Estados Unidos en la cumbre de Glasgow a limitar su uso del carbón. La sensación extendida es que a Kamala Harris le queda grande su actual puesto y no es una candidata viable para 2024. Los demócratas empiezan a temer que su renacimiento político en Washington sea breve y dure aún menos que esta presidencia.



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