Georgia and Texas are officially in play
The thing about a rising national political tide is that it lifts all boats – at least in proportion. Joe Biden has always been ahead of Donald Trump in the national polls. But now that Biden’s lead is starting to solidify, we’re seeing Biden now ahead in every single swing state. Biden is also ahead in Arizona, which is turning blue, but has long been a red state in presidential elections. Biden is also in striking distance in some deeper red states.
This is a good problem to have. It’s actually the best kind of problem to have. But it does raise some questions about how to take advantage of it. Former Senator Claire McCaskill tweeted this today: “Both Georgia and Texas will be razor close in November.” I think she’s right. So I asked her this: “Do we put serious resources into these states and try to win them? Or do we focus on the swing states we know we need to win?”
McCaskill responded with an important point: “I think the volunteer pool will be large in both states. Both states have Senate races. How much $ to spend there will depend on margins in other battlegrounds. But remember if Trump needs to spend there to defend they’re also stretching their resources.”
The bottom line is that states like Georgia and Texas are officially in play. Lots of things can and will change during this election cycle. But with Donald Trump’s poll numbers already weak and his troubles mounting, Joe Biden and the Democrats have to approach certain red states as if they’re winnable – because they are.
