Economist Ricardo Ferreira Reis said Democratic candidates in closely contested races were closer to the political center than those in states where the party was expected to win comfortably. He said the outcome could influence the profile of the party’s presidential candidate in two years.
Speaking about the US elections, Reis described his figures as an improvised estimate. On a scale from zero to 10, with 10 representing the most extreme position, he put the average for Democratic senators not facing an election at about 5.3. He gave the same average for candidates in states considered safe for Democrats.
Across the eight races he said were contested, the average was lower, indicating candidates closer to the center. Reis noted that it was unclear whether more centrist candidates were in closer races because of their positions, or whether Democrats had placed them in states they thought they could win.
He added that if Democrats won all eight races, their Senate caucus would move somewhat closer to the center on his measure. But he cautioned that the result was unlikely to include victories in every contest. Reis said the election could nevertheless begin to shape the party’s choice of presidential candidate two years from now.
Sources: Observador.