Trump's Bizarre Midterm Strategy: Completely Ignore Voter Demands
WASHINGTON--Republicans are heading into the midterm elections with voters focused heavily on the economy, inflation and the war with Iran — issues on which President Donald Trump is facing weak approval ratings, according to recent CNN/SSRS polling.
The surveys point to a difficult political environment for Republicans as voters express concerns about the cost of living and the direction of the country. The economy was identified as the most important issue for 68% of respondents, while 60% cited inflation as extremely important to their congressional vote.
Trump's approval on the economy stood at 27% in the latest CNN/SSRS poll, while his overall job approval was 33%. His approval on inflation was even lower, at 20%.
The cost of housing and other necessities has added to voters' concerns. Mortgage rates moved above 7% in September, adding pressure for prospective homebuyers and homeowners with adjustable or newly issued loans.
The Iran war is another political liability for the administration. Only 26% of Americans approved of Trump's handling of the conflict in a September CNN poll, down from 33% in March. Support among Republicans also declined, with 60% approving compared with 73% when the war began, according to CNN.
Artificial intelligence presents another potential point of tension. Trump has supported continued development of AI and related data centers, while polling has found substantial public support for greater government regulation. CNN reported that Trump's net approval rating on AI stood at negative 34 points, with an even wider gap among independents.
The disconnect between Trump's positions and voter concerns is particularly significant because the president remains closely tied to Republican candidates. A CNN/SSRS poll found that 44% of voters said their midterm vote would be intended to oppose Trump, compared with 19% who said it would support him. Democrats held an eight-point advantage on the generic congressional ballot, 49% to 41%.
The political environment differs from the 2018 midterms, when Republicans also faced an unpopular Trump but maintained an advantage on the economy. Trump's economic approval rating is now 22 points lower than it was at a comparable point in his first term, according to CNN.
Trump has continued to emphasize economic growth and argue that his policies are improving conditions. He has also defended his approach to the Iran conflict and rejected calls for greater government intervention in AI.
Republicans have begun responding to the political pressure in different ways. Some candidates have sought to distance themselves from Trump on issues including the economy and Iran, while others continue to closely align themselves with the president.
Democrats see an opportunity to make the midterms a referendum on Trump's record. Candidates have focused their attacks on inflation, energy costs, the Iran war and the administration's support for large AI data centers.
But Democrats face their own challenges.
Although Democrats held an eight-point advantage on the generic congressional ballot, their advantage was smaller than the 12-point lead they held at a comparable point before the 2018 midterms. Democratic congressional leaders also remained unpopular, with approval ratings around the same level as their Republican counterparts.
Voters were also divided over which party would do a better job addressing several major issues. Democrats held an advantage on health care, while the parties were more closely divided on the economy, personal finances, corruption and foreign policy, according to the polling cited by CNN.
The surveys provide only a snapshot of the electorate weeks before voting begins. Campaign spending, candidate quality, developments overseas and the issues that dominate the final weeks could all affect the outcome.
For now, the polling shows a Republican Party facing significant concerns over Trump's standing on several of the issues voters say matter most, while Democrats have yet to establish broad confidence in their own leadership or policy agenda.