President Obama said Sunday that those who believe Democrats will suffer in November because of this administration’s track record on the economy are mistaken.
Boasting that he’s willing to “put my record against any leader around the world,” the president said he believes his party will retain control of the Senate in the crucial midterm elections, despite mounting evidence to the contrary.
Mr. Obama conceded that many Americans don’t yet feel the benefits of his economic policies — mainly due to stagnant middle-class wages and the continued flow of wealth toward the rich, he argued — but insisted they’ll be willing to vote for Democrats as long as they’re presented with all of the facts.
“I can put my record against any leader around the world in terms of digging ourselves out of a terrible, almost unprecedented financial crisis. Ronald Reagan used to ask the question, ’Are you better off than you were four years ago?’ In this case, are you better off than you were in six? And the answer is, the country is definitely better off than we were when I came into office,” the president said during an interview on “60 Minutes.”
But many Senate races once thought to be virtual locks for Democrats — such as the Iowa contest between Democrat Bruce Braley and Republican Joni Ernst — now have swung the other way, and some political pundits believe there’s a very real possibility the GOP will capture control of the chamber.
Still, the president remains optimistic. Asked directly whether Democrats will keep control of the Senate, Mr. Obama gave a clear answer.
“Yes, I do,” he said. “Hopefully [the American people] get a chance to hear the argument, because all I’m doing is presenting the facts.”
• Ben Wolfgang can be reached at bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com.
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