The Democratic Party is whistling past the graveyard as their media allies continue to paint a rosy picture for their chances in the November midterm elections. That includes their smugness toward a series of recent polls that indicate the American people’s attitudes towards them are turning considerably sour.
Their contention continues to be that America hates Trump. They are basing their entire agenda around that dubious idea. They predict they will take back the House and possibly the Senate.
But recent polling indicates a far different mood in the country. Their party’s generic lead in the House elections has narrowed considerably with favorable news on the economy, unemployment, and the recent tax cuts law.
The former chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in 2014, former Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY) had an ominous take on recent events. “There’s no question and no surprise that Republican numbers are improving. They’ve surged from miserable to mediocre, he said. “But Democrats have massive energy on their side, and this president has a skill for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.”
That statement should be expected by a partisan Democrat, but on the generic ballot Israel’s party is slipping noticeably. Last month a CNN poll showed a lead of five points, or 49 percent or 44 percent. It should be noted that Israel predicted doom for the Republicans on the tax cut bill.
The Democrat’s do not want to recognize the obvious, but that is a vast improvement for the Republicans. They trailed by 18 points in December. It should be hugely worrisome news for the already besieged House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi who has created whispers in her own party that her days are numbered.
There is little doubt Donald Trump’s stock is rising among the American electorate. His approval rating has risen to 42 percent, a ten point jump from the same Monmouth poll a month earlier.
The recent tax bill has helped Republicans considerably. Add to that the failure for a single Democrat voting for it and it spells negative numbers for their midterm chances.
More political turmoil may be brewing for the Democrats. The recent release of the FBI memo that indicates egregious behavior by the FBI leadership could be heading into a serious political scandal. There are indications that former FBI Director Robert Mueller’s Russian collusion investigation against Donald Trump and his administration may backfire on Democrats.
Common sense Democrats acknowledge privately the year has not started well for their party. A government shutdown in January played poorly and was perceived to have been their party’s idea. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) took the heat for the botched attempt to pressure Trump into a corner.
But many of the party faithful remain optimistic. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) summed up the positive attitude that still prevails. She recently said, “It’s way too early to be concerned. You have to look at trend lines, not the vicissitudes of today’s headline affecting 48-hour approval ratings or polling. And I think those trend lines tell you that the enthusiasm is on the Democratic side. That has not abated.”
But there is little doubt that the dent Democrats were counting on from the protracted Russian probe has backfired and Trump is regaining traction with the American people. His triumphant State of the Union Address did little to help their cause. Cameras caught the hand-sitting Democrats frowning as the president espoused the virtues of a booming economy, low unemployment, and other Republican victories.
More bad news has followed with the announcement that the billionaire Koch brothers will be spending $400 million on Republican candidates and causes to keep the GOP in control of Congress. For the Democratic Party that is finding fundraising difficult in 2018, the news continues to be bad.
Midterm elections are traditionally favorable for the party out of power. But tradition was thrown out the window with the election of outsider Donald Trump. He continues to rewrite the Washington book on traditional political thinking and concerned Democrats are well aware that the times are changing.
The White House and Republicans are indicating they want the 2018 midterms to be all about the economy. That may be very bad news indeed for wounded Democrats. No one is more concerned than Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi.
Dwight L. Schwab, Jr. is an award-winning national political and foreign affairs columnist and published author. He has spent over 35 years in the publishing industry. His long-running articles include many years at Examiner.com and currently Newsblaze.com. Dwight is an author of two highly acclaimed books, "Redistribution of Common Sense - Selected Commentaries on the Obama Administration 2009-2014" and "The Game Changer - America's Most Stunning Election in History." He is a native of Portland, Oregon, a journalism graduate from the University of Oregon, and a resident of the SF Bay Area. To read more of his reports — Click Here Now.
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