Future.

Your second paragraph is exactly why they didn't win, too focused on the past, and too focused on national issues, not local issues. I'd also have you look at the lens color of your glasses. It wasn't a GOP in Virginia who had a whole bunch of old folks in nursing homes die at very high rates during the early part of the pandemic, nor in NY, nor in Cali, etc.

All politics is local, people want leadership that is focused on improving their future, not looking into the rear view mirror. Which doesn't say we should forget the past, but damn, you can't make the election about the past.

Had TMac made a promise to eliminate car inspections for new cars for the first 3 years, he may have won, but he projected no vision.