'It's the economy ...': Candidates seek turnout, if not persuasion, with inflation message

The economy in Georgia is, as in many elections, top of mind for voters headed to the polls. The specific policies each candidate put forward, and the specific issues that the economy is facing, however, may matter less than other things like partisanship and incumbency.

Mary-Kate Lizotte, professor of political science at Augusta University, said there may be some independent voters who are swayed by economic proposals — but that includes a relatively small number of voters. The fact that Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp is the incumbent in his race against Stacey Abrams may influence the election more.

"The state of the economy matters and it can influence who turns out, and who's enthusiastic," said Lizotte. "But (the economy is) not going to make as much of a difference in terms of people changing who they vote for, just like whether or not they actually show up."

This is not to say the economy is not top of mind, but most voters generally support one party's approach to addressing inflation already.

"Part of it is just justification or rationalization for how they're voting," Lizotte said.

That has not stopped Republicans highlighting inflation at every opportunity.

"Voters are really looking at the economy; they're looking at the price of goods, the price of gas, inflation," said Kerwin Swint, professor of political science at Kennesaw State University. "So this looks like it's going to be a real pocketbook election, which right now might benefit the Republicans."

What you need to know: Early voting is underway in the 2022 Georgia midterm election

Scapegoating on the economy

Republicans, Swint said, are focused on blaming Democrats in Washington for inflation while highlighting low unemployment and significant job creation within the state. Tying Democratic candidates to the fiscal state of the country and President Joe Biden's agenda is a popular campaign tactic, including in debates. U.S. Senate challenger Herschel Walker used the economy to criticize his opponent, incumbent Sen. Raphael Warnock. So did Gov. Kemp and U.S. Congressman Buddy Carter, although neither of them are running against incumbents.

Abrams, for her part, is arguing that economic growth has left some Georgians behind. While both are talking about curbing inflation, they have proposed different ways to counter it.

"Stacey Abrams wants to do things that are going to target lower income people, like housing; Brian Kemp sort of looks at economic things that sort of spread around the state, such as taxes, and he wants to give a rebate to homeowners, for example, around the state," Swint said. "Sort of a different philosophical approach."

The effect of the policies from both candidates, however, would be to put more money into Georgian's pockets.

"(Kemp is) credit claiming when it comes to the things that are going well, and then saying that, you know, 'it's all the Democrats in DC who are causing inflation,' and no sort of recognition for like the fact that him sending out, you know, checks to help people who are struggling with inflation is the same thing as a stimulus that Republicans are saying caused inflation in the first place," Lizotte said.

The policies themselves are not, Lizotte said, actually going to do anything about inflation.

"I would just say the policies that have been floated by Kemp, who doesn't, you know, really get to affect inflation very much, and the Republican Party, you know, in DC, are not things that are going to reduce inflation," she said. "Inflation is a tough one. It's not as easy to have an influence on I feel like as a recession, where you just like, you know, you pour stimulus into the economy."

But while the candidates messages on inflation may be aimed at their respective bases, there are some voters who may be paying attention to the details.

"Republicans really want to hear, you know, a tax message," Swint said. "Democrats really want to hear, you know, a justice message and a lower income support message. So I think as far as motivating voters, it's really the base — I think it's the independent voters swing voters that are going to be more motivated by you know, how's my pocketbook feeling? You know, where do I think things are headed?"

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: On economy, inflation, do policy proposals matter in Georgia?