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GOP Proposal to Promote Early Voting in Defiance of Trump’s Criticism
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Inside a Republican Plan to Encourage Early Voting Despite Trump’s Attacks
Within the confines of a sprawling compound in Phoenix, the influential conservative group Turning Point Action is formulating a strategy to combat what they perceive as a critical threat to the Republican Party’s future: the reluctance of their voters to engage in early voting, especially by mail, following the 2020 election. Concerns within the group and among national Republicans have been mounting due to Democrats’ successful mobilization of their base to vote early, leaving GOP voters to turn out mainly on Election Day. This disparity has largely been fueled by the misinformation spread by former President Donald J. Trump regarding mail-in voting, perpetuated at times by Turning Point Action officials, which has instilled deep skepticism among conservative voters.
A sense of urgency permeates their endeavors as Turning Point Action leads the charge for a solution. The group, initially established to cater to young Republicans, has since evolved into a key player in right-wing politics. Their ambitious Chase the Vote program aims to amass over $108 million in funding with a vast team in Arizona and Wisconsin dedicated to identifying Republican-leaning voters who have abstained from recent elections, fostering personal connections with them over months, and ultimately mobilizing them to cast their ballots.
Political finesse will be crucial in navigating this endeavor. With directives to recruit hundreds of individuals to engage with potential voters, the group’s chief operating officer, Tyler Bowyer, underscored the importance of maintaining a nuanced approach. The program represents one of the most substantial and costly efforts on the right to promote early voting among Republicans, acknowledging the necessity of adapting to evolving electoral dynamics.
Party-wide Mistrust, Fueled by Trump
Despite concerted efforts to enhance Republican turnout in early voting, significant obstacles remain. President Trump and his allies continue to propagate baseless claims about mail-in voting fraud, perpetuating a climate of distrust. This skepticism, amplified by Mr. Trump’s assertions during a recent Fox News event and rally in Wisconsin, has significantly impacted Republican participation in early voting.
In the aftermath of the 2020 election, data reveals a stark disparity between Democratic and Republican early voting numbers, with a considerable advantage for Democrats in crucial states. A February study by the Pew Research Center underscored the deep-seated reluctance among Republicans towards mail-in voting, complicating efforts to promote early voting initiatives within the party.
Acknowledging these challenges, the Republican National Committee initiated the Bank Your Vote program to encourage early voting among party members. However, the conflicting messaging from party leaders, influenced by President Trump’s assertions, poses a significant hurdle to fostering a substantial shift in Republican voting behaviors.
‘Soul Searching’ Over a Republican Disadvantage
Reflecting on the outcome of the 2022 election, prominent conservative figure Charlie Kirk highlighted the need for introspection within the party. Witnessing issues such as long wait times and technical glitches at polling places, Mr. Kirk acknowledged the critical role of early voting in shaping election outcomes.
The defeat of Republican candidate Kari Lake in the gubernatorial race underscored the importance of leveraging early voting, which saw a significant Democratic advantage in mail-in ballots. This realization prompted a reevaluation of traditional Republican stances on early voting and mail-in ballots, signaling a potential shift in strategy.
In a bid to address these challenges, Turning Point Action unveiled an ambitious plan to hire hundreds of ballot chasers in key states, aiming to diversify Republican voting habits and enhance electoral participation. Embracing a multifaceted approach, the organization seeks to capitalize on various voting options to bolster Republican engagement in the electoral process.
A Mission to Change Republican Voting Habits
Driving Turning Point’s initiative is an extensive data operation spearheaded by Matthew Martinez, aimed at identifying and mobilizing low-propensity Republican voters. By strategically mapping out precincts and wards in Arizona and Wisconsin, the organization plans to target potential Republican voters in traditionally safe districts, emphasizing the importance of rallying the base.
Beyond bolstering early voting turnout, Turning Point intends to leverage its Chase the Vote infrastructure for election integrity efforts. The focus on relational organizing underscores the group’s commitment to fostering personal connections with skeptical voters, recognizing the need for a nuanced and empathetic approach amidst prevailing political divisions.
‘We Need to Be Ned Flanders’
In embracing a paradigm of relational organizing, Turning Point Action emphasizes the significance of personal connections in mobilizing low-propensity voters. Drawing inspiration from the genial character Ned Flanders from “The Simpsons,” the group underscores the importance of empathy and human connection in engaging with disillusioned voters.
Amidst the challenges posed by skepticism towards early voting among conservatives, the group’s chief operating officer, Tyler Bowyer, advocates for a compassionate and respectful approach in engaging with voters. By fostering genuine connections and eschewing confrontational tactics, Turning Point seeks to effect tangible changes in Republican voting habits.
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Is now the right time to invest in gold as prices have cooled?
The price of gold has climbed to record highs recently and has remained strong through much of April. And, that growth continued until the precious metal traded at around $2,390 per ounce on April 19, 2024. But since, growth in the price of the precious metal has cooled, with gold’s price now hovering around $2,300 per ounce.
This lull in gold’s price may represent an investment opportunity.
In general, investing is centered around buying assets when prices are low and selling them when prices are high – generating a profit on the difference between the two. So, considering the declines in gold’s price over the past few days, now may be the time to make your investment. But is buying gold during this lull in prices really a good idea?
Compare your gold investment options among leading brokers now.
Gold prices have cooled. Should you buy in now?
With gold’s price down from recent highs, you may be wondering if now is the right time to buy in. There are several reasons the dip in gold’s price may represent an opportunity to buy. Here are some of the biggest:
Prices may rise again
If looking at a gold price chart shows anything for certain, it shows that changes in the overall growth of the medal come in fits and spurts. Periods of price growth are typically followed by periods of declines and vice versa.
But with inflation rising in recent months – and with gold’s reputation as a safe-haven asset that can hedge against inflation – it only makes sense that the price of the precious metal will eventually start to head up again in the future. While attempting to time that directional change may be tricky, buying the precious metal while the price is down gives you the opportunity to take advantage of any upward movement that may be ahead.
Add gold to your portfolio now before prices have a chance to rise.
You may be able to make a quick profit
Gold isn’t known as an asset in which you can earn a quick return, but in today’s market, that may be the case. Don’t forget that in January, gold was trading at just $2,000 per ounce. And, by mid-April, the commodity’s price had climbed to around $2,400 per ounce. That’s about 20% growth in a matter of months, much of which happened since March 1 – an impressive climb for any investment asset.
Perhaps more importantly, gold’s price growth through the beginning of 2024 shows that the commodity doesn’t have to be a buy and hold style investment that you keep in a safety deposit box or precious metal depository for years to come. There’s also the possibility that the commodity’s price could climb further ahead, making it a compelling way to potentially generate a quick profit.
There are other benefits of investing in gold
There are other benefits of investing in gold that have little to do with the price growth seen thus far in 2024 – or the lull in prices seen over the past couple of days. Those benefits include:
- Inflation protection: Gold has long been considered an inflation hedge, and for good reason. When inflation drives the prices of consumer goods and services up – and the value of the dollar down – gold’s price tends to rise. So, it could be used to maintain the value of your portfolio during inflationary economic conditions. That’s important in today’s economic environment as stubborn inflation continues to weigh on the value of the dollar.
- Portfolio diversification: Gold’s price doesn’t always move in the same pattern that bonds or stocks do. So, mixing a reasonable amount of gold into your portfolio (up to 10% of your portfolio assets) as a diversifier could protect you from losses should one or more of your traditional portfolio assets fall in value. “If you have less than 5% – 10% of your net worth in commodities & FX (forex), you should absolutely consider adding exposure to gold and other precious metals,” says Vijay Marolia, money manager and managing partner at the wealth management firm, Regal Point Capital.
The bottom line
Gold’s price has fallen from recent highs – which may represent an opportunity to tap into growth ahead. However, gold isn’t simply a “buy while it’s low and sell while it’s a high” kind of investment opportunity. The commodity can also protect your portfolio from the stubborn inflation we’ve seen thus far in 2024 while acting as a diversification tool that could increase your risk-adjusted portfolio returns. So, consider adding gold to your portfolio today while it has the potential to grow in value.
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