Until a couple of weeks ago, the focus of the US presidential election was largely on issues related to domestic politics. The presidential candidates from both parties were giving their piece of mind on the situation of US middle class, income inequality, and failure of US economy to generate jobs and about the future of so-called American dream. However, increasingly it seems that the Paris attacks might have shifted the direction of the presidential debates.
Unlike European politicians, Americans, and specifically Republican politicians are using the tragedy in Paris to play up the fears of the American public. According to multiple reports, it was an attack carried by the home-grown terrorists rather than Syrian refugees. But that has not stopped the Republican presidential candidates to force the Obama administration to put a hold on accepting Syrian refugees next year.
Jeb Bush, once a rising star, now not so much, has taken a step further and asked Americans to understand the fact that attacks like Paris are an attempt to simply destroy the western civilization. Presidential hopefuls seem to think, maybe rightly, that politics of fear works in America. The fear factor was also seen in the aftermath of unfortunate events of 9/11.
A poll before the Paris attack showed that only 3 percent of Americans rated terrorism as the most significant problem the country is facing. But things can change quickly. A Reuters / Ipsos poll conducted over the weekend after the Paris attack found out that 63 percent of Americans believe that similar attacks might take place in the USA.
So suddenly the Republicans, who by default always shine when it comes to the national security, are taking the charge. Suddenly, it seems that the whole election is only about fighting with radical Islam and Daesh. Or it is made to seem that way.
One should not forget that the GOP is facing multiple issues. Most importantly, there is a growing anxiety within the ranks of GOP and their panic is quite understandable. With less than three months before the Iowa caucuses, the first major electoral event of the nominating process for President of the United States, the GOP establishment has not able to break the hold and control of Donald Trump and Ben Carson in the polls.
One after another, three top-ranking Republican governors have left the field. Scott Walker, a hero of the tea-party conservatives who was originally predicted to be a finalist for the nomination. Rick Perry, former governor of Texas, who presided over the best economy in the country. And last but not least, good, old Bobby Jindal, once depicted as next Regan and Obama of the Republican Party.
According to multiple polls over the last weekend, Trump has once again become the frontrunner with 28 percent support among GOP voters and most importantly among independent voters, while the establishment candidates Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio were able to attract the support of 18 percent and 11 percent of likely voters, respectively. In such a scenario, there are hints that the GOP elite might ask Mitt Romney to run for president again, despite his earlier insistence on staying away from the field.
To make the matter worse for Republicans, according to the political experts from both sides of the aisle, the Benghazi hearings helped Hillary Clinton's reputation rather than damage it. It now increasingly seems that Hillary Clinton might be the Democratic nominee for the big job. So, under these circumstances, the Republican hopefuls' knee-jerk response after Paris is understandable.
In the short run, the politics of Paris attack would certainly help gain some momentum for the GOP. They have a topic to brag about but the economy and domestic issues will largely remain in focus. But within Republican Party it will undoubtedly contribute to put forward a case of experience against the outsiders like Trump who lack any experience at all. In any case the Republican voters are known to be much more thoughtful than Democrats when they make choices in primary elections.
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