An on-line search for “election issues” quickly identified the hot topic of this election season and I bet it will surprise very few, if any! History repeats itself as James Carville, a strategist for Clinton’s 1992 campaign, provided the answer way back then. “It’s the economy, stupid”. This is even a better answer than Ronald Reagan’s question in the 1980 debate with President Jimmy Carter: “Are you better off than you were four years ago?” Taken together, these quotes provide a good one-two punch for the 2024 campaign season!

Looking at the on-line search results is rather pointed. The Pew Research Center reported that 81% of registered voters say the economy is a very important in picking a presidential candidate. Statista reported that 25% of Americans picked inflation and prices as critical followed by 10% more picked jobs and the economy. CBS News headlined a story “Americans say economy is a top election issue”. Another source covered five big issues of concern and listed #1 as “The economy, again”.

Walk into the Republican Party of Monroe County’s campaign office and one of the first things you will see is a large poster about the Biden-Baldwin economy. It plainly points out a 26.4% increase in rent, a 4.6% drop in real wages, and a 23.1% increase in food prices. A little lower on the poster it states Republicans will lower taxes on goods and services. Elsewhere in Monroe County there are two 4x8 campaign signs addressing the “Biden-Evers Inflation”.

But what do the candidates say? On the critical issue of “Renew the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017” President Trump is “for” and Vice President Harris is “against”. Senator Baldwin is “against” while her challenger Eric Hovde is “for”. There are other comparisons that indicate President Trump wants a strong economy while Vice President Harris does not. For example, Trump supports energy independence while the Harris position is unknown.

Looking at the candidates’ literature we find a Hovde quote “It’s time to come together and find commonsense solutions to restore America”. That is followed by his four bullet goals of which two are “End Biden’s Inflation” and “Restore Fiscal Responsibility and Stop Deficit Spending”. Congressman Derrick Van Orden’s first accomplishment is “Voted to lower your cost of living, make energy more affordable, and cut reckless spending in Washington.” One of Congressman Tom Tiffany’s top concerns is “Decades High Inflation”.

The Coulee Region Republican candidates for State Senate and Assembly appear to be all on this same team. 32nd District State Senate candidate Stacey Klein, for example, includes these two bullet comments on her literature: “Working for your Economic Independence & Strength” and “Ease the Cost of Living”. These state legislative candidates most certainly know what most voters know “It’s the economy, stupid.” This election season, the “stupid” are the elected leaders in the Executive Branch in Washington and Madison, the candidates at or near the top of the Democratic ticket, and a few entrenched Democrats that have been in a legislative office way too long in Washington or Madison.

Consider the various comments about the conservative candidates listed above. Ask yourself Reagan’s famous question from his 1980 debate with President Carter. Consider James Carville’s famous quote from the 1992 presidential campaign. If you haven’t voted already, vote for the conservative candidates up and down the ballot. We have a country to save!