D.C. Memo: As midterm election nears, corruption tops voter concerns, beating out inflation, healthcare

WASHINGTON – The home stretch of an election season is always nutty, but this one seems especially bizarre.

Voters seem to be subjected to more attack ads, amplified by social media. This is also the year when deepfake campaign commercials have become prevalent and commonplace.

Then there are the polls, so many that pollsters say they can’t keep up with demand as the number of tight races have proliferated.

In Minnesota, both chambers of the Legislature are in play and there’s an unexpectedly close race for the U.S. Senate between Democratic Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and Republican former sportscaster Michele Tafoya and other competitive races.

Historically, the party in power does poorly in the midterm. But this year, that party in power, the GOP, is really playing defense, even in the most Republican parts of the country, giving up help to some incumbents whose races have already been considered lost to staunch ...