We begin with a quote attributed to, among many others, former LBJ aide, Texas governor, Treasury Secretary, and presidential candidate John Connally, “Money is the mother’s milk of politics.”
Connally is now best known for being wounded when Jack Kennedy was murdered in 1963. Connally should also be known for spending $11 million on his 1976 presidential campaign and winning only one delegate. That was $65 million in 2026 dollars. So much for mother’s milk.
Connally seemed to be the candidate from central casting: charismatic, tough, and smart. He had also been indicted for and acquitted of a Watergate related felony. 50 years ago, indictments mattered. Ironically, Connally was charged with taking a bribe from milk producers. It was a mother of a trial. I promise to stop milking that analogy after this musical interlude:
How does this tie in to the 2026 midterms? The MAGA magnates are spending a fortune this time around. The dread Elon Musk is spending more in 2026 than in 2024. He is not the only billionaire bozo to throw good money after bad this election cycle.
People are worried about the funding disparity. I am not: money is important but it’s not everything. Voters have to be willing to buy what the MAGA magnates are selling. Musk’s OTT support of Ken Paxton is focused on negative culture war oriented ads attacking James Talarico as a vegan and other nonsense.
Culture war ads don’t seem to be working in 2026. Voters are concerned about kitchen table issues, corruption, creeping authoritarianism, data centers, and the Iran War. Those are substantive issues that cut against Republicans. Can money make voters care more about transgender slurs than gas prices? I’m skeptical.
Let’s try a consumer products comparison. In 1985, Coca-Cola felt Pepsi breathing down its corporate neck. They messed with the formula to make Coke sweeter. They put all their marketing muscle behind this:
Despite all the money poured into the New Coke, it flopped and was withdrawn from the market after a mere 17 days. Hype and money were not enough. That’s true of politics as well.
Repeat after me: Money isn’t everything. Voters aren’t buying what Republicans are selling in 2026.
The MAGA magnate’s massive cash infusion may help in senate races in red states such as Iowa, Kansas, and Texas but it will only bring wayward GOP voters home; all of those races are winnable for Democrats. In those three states and Georgia, North Carolina, and Ohio there’s a huge gap in candidate quality, which favors the Democrats. Candidates matter.
How about another marketing fail example? In 2001, the Segway scooter was supposed to be the next big thing. They spent $100 million on hype, but it flopped. Segways never captured the popular imagination: only 6000 units sold after the huge hype fest.
Repeat after me: Money isn’t everything. Voters aren’t buying what Republicans are selling in 2026.
Let’s circle back to another political example. It involves Texas GOP Senator Phil Gramm’s 1996 presidential bid. He was no John Connally, Gramm was a bean counter with limited popular appeal. His campaign spent $21 million to win between 8 and 10 delegates. That’s $40 million in 2026 dollars. Gramm spent less for more delegates than Big John but his campaign flopped just as badly. Voters weren’t buying what Gramm was selling.
In 2026, voters are tired of Donald Trump. His thirst for attention has led to the sort of overexposure past presidents avoided. He should be hiding in a closet at Mar-a-Lago instead of making the midterms about himself. Thanks, Donald.
The MAGA base has shrunk this year as many Trump voters are finally realizing that he’s a con artist and they’re his marks. They should have listened to Marco Rubio in 2016. Before he became a Trump sycophant Rubio denounced the Insult Comedian’s con artistry. He should have listened to himself: Marco is now a 2028 contender who carries the Trump stink.
Sometimes midterm elections are baked. That was the case in 2006 for Democrats and 2010 for Republicans. Voters are sick of the Insult Comedian’s shtick. In Kansas, one of Adam Hamilton’s top issues is Trump’s name calling and overall indecency. That’s one reason why he’s come out of nowhere to be tied with the hapless incumbent. Candidates matter.
Repeat after me: Money isn’t everything. Voters aren’t buying what Republicans are selling in 2026.
Money may be the mother’s milk of politics but in 2026 it’s leaving a sour aftertaste in voters’ mouths. It took longer than it should have but the spell is finally broken. The musical last word goes to Richard Thompson:
The countdown last word goes to Harold Lloyd:
