America is voting: The midterm election drew to a close on Tuesday today across the US as voters cast their ballot for all 435 members of the House of Representatives, 35 of the 100 members of the Senate, 36 governors, and other a plethora of other local officials across all 50 states.
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Polls indicated that the Republican Party had a high chance of obtaining a majority in at least one chamber of Congress: The House. This means a blow to President Joe Biden and the Democratic Party, who currently have control of both chambers (albeit through a tie-breaking vote in the Senate through Vice President Kamala Harris).
The fiercest battle is going on for a majority in the Senate, which will be affected by close bouts in the states of Georgia, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, Wisconsin, Colorado, possibly also in Washington and, undoubtedly, in Pennsylvania, where the gap in the polls between Democratic candidate, John Fetterman, and his Republican opponent, Dr. Mehmet Öz, stands at one-tenth of a percentage point.
Yesterday we participated in a support event for Dr. Öz, held in a small family restaurant in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. Half an hour before Dr. Öz arrived, the restaurant was already bursting at the seams with activists and energy. Many were adults, but they were acting as enthusiastic as children. Some were wearing MAGA hats, commonly identified with former President Donald Trump. This is the white and conservative America that brought Trump to the White House – an America that wants law and order; an America that is outraged by efforts to cut police budgets and the increase in crime; an America that demands restrictions on immigration; an America that puts an emphasis on the economy.
"Are we ready for Öz?" asks the unofficial host of the event, and the entirely white audience roars "Yes!" This intense atmosphere is nothing like the frozen feelings expressed here at the event two days ago, held here for Fetterman, Dr. Öz's competitor for Pennsylvania's vacant seat in the Senate. Fetterman's event was planned and coordinated from start to end. Here, however, Öz's encounter with the crowd is authentic and lively – before, during, and after.
"We need to deal with the crime, give policemen their power back and let them do their job," says Öz, who enters the restaurant like a rock star. He discusses issues of immigration, gas prices, and inflation. "Did you know that Fetterman didn't pay his taxes?! He supports the legalization of drugs and raising taxes. Is this what we want?"
Following the Floating Votes
In the last few days before the opening of the polls, Öz completes the long journey from the ideological Right, which he chose as the candidate of the Republican party, to the Center – and to the voters who are swaying between him and his opponent. He knows that this is the route to victory. "I ask each one of you to go to ten of your friends who are still undecided. If they are going to vote for Fetterman, take their car keys," draws out the Republican candidate and the audience roars with laughter. "But if they are undecided, make sure they get to the polls. This way Pennsylvania will bring the right people to Washington." He finishes talking, poses for photographs with activists, hands out autographs, and runs to the next event. Rose, whose sign was autographed, bursts into tears. "We must deal with the crime. We need him in the Senate," she says. Fetterman and the Democrats label Öz as non-local, but judging by the reactions from the audience, it seems that the state is actually supporting the famous doctor.
Sharing the Burden
Anyway, the Democrats – both within Pennsylvania and without – are putting in their best efforts to prevent the political beating, or at least to narrow the expected gap between them and the Republicans. Biden and his Democratic predecessors in the White House, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton join the efforts.
In recent days the three participated in several rallies to motivate their party activists. On the other side, Trump is also leading election rallies, to some extent in preparation for his expected announcement of a second run for the presidency in the 2024 elections. According to forecasts, about 35 million Americans exercised their right to early voting by regular mail or email. The total turnout could reach 50 percent.
The main topics on the agenda in the elections are the economic situation and rise in prices, the increase in crime, and illegal immigration. In addition, in many states, abortion rights, as well as sexual identity and sexual education in schools is on the ballot in one way or another. In most areas results are expected to be known by Wednesday morning (Israel time). In the case of close numbers, results may be delayed even for several weeks.
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