Could an October Surprise Change the Course of Midterms? – By Darragh Roche (Newsweek) / Oct 1, 2022
October is the last full month of campaigning in the upcoming midterm elections that may prove crucial for President Joe Biden’s agenda, and a major test of former President Donald Trump’s endorsement power.
As September ends, speculation will be rife that the election could soon see a so-called “October surprise” that may have a major impact on voters’ choices and change the trajectory of the midterms.
The term appears to have been coined in 1980 by William Casey, campaign manager for Ronald Reagan, and originally referred to the possibility that U.S. hostages held in Iran would be released before that year’s presidential election.
The hostages were ultimately freed on inauguration day, 1981 but the idea of an October surprise stuck. Many elections since 1980 have featured unexpected events that could potentially change the outcome, though not always in October.
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