Folks, I almost spilled my coffee reading this one. A new CNN poll conducted by SSRS finds that Republicans are facing a pretty bleak midterm landscape, and it’s not hard to see why. With President Donald Trump at record unpopularity, it’s like the whole party is stuck in the mud. Nationally, voters prefer Democratic candidates over Republicans by an eight-point margin, which is slightly less than the 12-point advantage they had in 2018, but still not great for the GOP.
The economy is a big part of the problem, with only 27% of Americans approving of Trump’s handling of it. That’s down 22 points from 2018, and it’s no wonder, given that 28% of Americans call economic conditions good, which is a drop of 41 points. Two-thirds of registered voters say the economy is “extremely important” to their vote, which is higher than in the past two midterms. And, in a shift from recent trends, Americans say they agree more with Democrats than Republicans when it comes to the economy.
Now, I know some of you might be thinking, “But Big Elephant, what about Trump’s supporters?” Well, bless their hearts, they’re still out there, but they’re not exactly enthusiastic about the current state of his presidency. Only 13% strongly approve of his performance, which is a career low. And when it comes to the economy, 50% of Republicans disapprove of Trump’s handling of inflation, which is not exactly a ringing endorsement.
The Democrats, on the other hand, are fired up for the midterm, with 49% of voters saying they’d support a Democratic candidate over a Republican candidate in their congressional district. But, despite all the hype, the public’s expectations for a Democratic Congress aren’t exactly sky-high. Both congressional Democrats and Republicans are deeply unpopular, with about one-quarter of Americans approving of each. And while Americans say a Democratic-controlled Congress would have a positive effect on health care policy, they’re closely split on whether it would be more positive or negative when it comes to the cost of living, their own finances, corruption, or foreign policy.
You can’t make this stuff up, folks. The poll finds that elections themselves, election integrity, and voting rights are at the forefront of many partisans’ minds, with 61% calling the issue extremely important. Majorities also say that inflation and health care are extremely important, while other hot-button issues don’t register as deeply. Somewhere in Atlanta, a producer thought this sounded terrifying, I’m sure.
In conclusion, it’s clear that the midterms are shaping up to be a real challenge for Republicans, and it’s largely due to Trump’s unpopularity and the economic woes. The Democrats have a narrow lead, but the public’s expectations for a Democratic Congress are muted, to say the least. As I always say, you can’t make this stuff up, and this poll is proof that politics is always full of surprises. And on that note, I’m going to refill my coffee cup and sit back to watch the rest of this wild ride – it’s going to be a long midterm season, folks!
Armchair patriot. Believes in the free market, cold beer, and that there’s always a guy named George behind every CNN segment.
Former remote-throwing champion turned #1 couch commentator on liberal panic in the media. Born in Texas (or so his mug says), he earned a degree in Fake Newsology & Beer Philosophy from YouTube University.
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