With the primary season nearly over and the candidates for federal office mostly set, Republicans should be optimistic.

Perhaps not quite as optimistic as they were around Independence Day when Republicans held an eight-point lead in the generic congressional ballot and the GOP seemed assured of capturing both houses of Congress. Since then, Democrats have mounted something of a comeback. They’ve drastically outraised Republicans, especially in Senate races, and have forged leads in several key races where Republicans were expected to do well.

Part of this is the natural political equilibrium re-establishing itself. Part of it has been the coordinated efforts of the national media who have worked with the White House to trumpet Joe Biden’s “comeback” because his approval numbers have risen a couple of points since the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act [sic].

And part of it is self-inflicted wounds by Republicans. They aren’t raising nearly enough money, and their candidates — sorely lacking in experience and sometimes judgment — are underperforming.