It’s starting to look like 2016 all over again.
The Democrats began the year with dreams of taking over the House of Representatives and maybe even the Senate.
Now, it looks like they’re headed toward another epic disaster at the ballot box. They could lose the House… and even lose the seats they need to filibuster in the Senate!
Their hopes of picking up congressional races is sinking faster than the Titanic, with new polls showing President Donald Trump’s popularity rising on the strength of a strong economy, massive tax cuts and a restored military.
Two new polls last week showed Trump’s approved rating up by double digits over where it was last year.
One poll found that he now has a 44 percent approval rating, compared to the low-30s a few months back.
Liberals must be stunned is that this survey wasn’t carried out by Republican partisans.
It was conducted by Priorities USA, a Democratic Super PAC!
That poll no doubt has them quaking in their fair-trade, socially-responsible, made with reclaimed materials booties.
But a second one has to have them absolutely terrified: The poll from Politico/Morning Consult finds his numbers is now dead even.
Trump has a 47 percent approval rating… and 47 percent disapproval rating, meaning he’s about to head into positive territory for the first time in his presidency.
Just as the SS Liberal is about to sink, the rising Trump Tide is lifting Republican boats, helping GOP candidates to take a lead in the critical races needed to keep control over the House of Representatives.
Late last year, the Democrats had a massive lead in that regard on what’s known as the “generic ballot.”
That’s when voters aren’t asked about a specific candidate but rather which party they’d vote for. It’s not great for tracking individual races, but the generic ballot is a handy tool for picking up the mood of the country.
In December, they were sitting smug after a CNN poll gave them an 18-point edge on the generic ballot.
Now, they’re in panic mode… because that double-digit lead has vanished!
The Politico/Morning Consult poll found the entire advantage was wiped out by steady GOP leadership on core issues.
The Republicans now own a 39-38 lead, with 23 percent still undecided and plenty of time left for GOP voters and independents to “come home” to the party.
“Not only have Republicans increased support on the generic congressional ballot, they are now trusted more to handle the most important issue when voters head to the polls: the economy,” Kyle Dropp, Morning Consult’s co-founder and chief research officer, told Politico. “In mid-December, 39 percent of voters said they trusted Democrats more to handle the economy, compared to 38 percent who said Republicans. Today, 43 percent say Republicans and 32 percent say Democrats.”
As President Bill Clinton once told his own party, “It’s the economy, stupid.”
He lied about plenty. But he was right about that.
And while the party of the Clintons keeps playing identity politics, the GOP is laser-focused on the American economy as it continues to recover from the stagnant Obama years.
Now, American voters are starting to notice.
–The Horn editorial team