Inflation hit a three-year high last month as President Donald Trump's war in Iran continued pushing energy costs higher, and an analyst warned that could hurt Republican chances in the midterm elections.
Consumer prices rose 4.2 percent in May from a year earlier, surpassing the 3.8 percent hike the previous month, and CNN's Jeff Zeleny said those higher consumer prices could get baked in as a political issue even if they alleviate before the election.
"There is no questionthat this really justunderscores what we've all beenseeing all year long, thataffordability and the risingcosts of everything are reallydriving this election," Zeleny said. "Justa short time ago, we obtained amemo from the National Republican Senatorial Committee,which makes this exact point."
Zeleny summarized that memo, which warned Republicans not to get complacent in Maine despite the Democratic primary win by controversial candidate Graham Platner because voter anger over affordability gives him a real shot of unseating GOP Sen. Susan Collins.
"They'retalking about the economy," he said. "Thatis exactly what is driving thisrace and so many others. I was with the president just on Friday in Wisconsin and talkingto so many voters there, andfarmers and dairy farmers, theyare just deeply concerned aboutthe rising prices here, andeverything is sort of connected.I mean, what we're seeinghappening in the Middle East,there's no end in sight to the Iran war here."
"So it's alldriving together," he added. "So hugewarning signs for Republicans,no doubt."