GOP officials are concerned that the overturning of Roe v. Wade will negatively impact midterms, Politico reported.- They fear the ruling might shift the focus from the economy and inflation, issues which Biden polls low on.
While Republicans are publicly celebrating the overturning of Roe v. Wade, some are privately worrying that the timing could negatively impact the November midterms.
Some Republicans fear the
"This is not a conversation we want to have,"
Friday's landmark Supreme Court ruling overturned nearly a 50-year precedent that legalized abortion nationwide.
Although overturning Roe has been a key ambition for conservatives for decades, the majority of Americans believe abortion should be legal in all or certain circumstances, according to national polls from Pew and Gallup.
Some Republicans worry that the ruling could shift the focus away from the economy and inflation, which has previously been a top issue for voters.
A recent Washington Post-ABC News poll found that voters largely disapprove of President Joe Biden's handling of the economy and inflation.
"Everything was going our way. Gas is above $5. Inflation is a giant problem," a former Republican congressman, granted anonymity to speak candidly, told Politico.
"The only thing [Democrats] have got going for them is the Roe thing, which is what, 40 years of settled law that will be changed that will cause some societal consternation," he said. "And can they turn that into some turnout? I think the answer is probably 'Yes.'"
"Maybe instead of losing 45 seats, they lose 30," the congressman said. At a minimum, "there will be a few seats that Republicans would have won without [the abortion rights decision], and they may not win them now."
Former President Donald Trump has been widely credited with the abortion ruling because he appointed three conservative justices during his presidency.
However, even Trump is reported to have privately said that he feared overturning Roe would be "bad for Republicans."
"You go to any diner in America, and nobody's talking about this"
Democratic candidates in several key states have said that they plan to make abortion rights a key focus of their campaigns, The New York Times reported.
While abortion has not historically been a major mobilizing issue for voters, polls suggest it will now play a more important role than in the past.
Some fear that the Biden's party could increase the votes of young people and suburban women, who they had recently been making headway with.
However, others have suggested abortion is still less important to average voters compared to ongoing economic issues.
"You go to any diner in America, and nobody's talking about this," Dave Carney, a national Republican strategist told Politico.
"That's not what's driving the conversation. Real people, working people, people who vote, are talking about the incompetence of the president, and then they go down the list of six or seven things."
These issues include the rising price of goods and the recent baby formula shortage.