Back in September, Democrats were celebrating their increasing lead over Republicans as midterm elections drew nearer. The momentum from the overturn of Roe v. Wade gave the Democrats a noticeable advantage, but with only three weeks to election day, they may have lost their edge.
Falling Behind
Polling for the 2022 generic congressional vote showed Democrats having a slim advantage over Republicans in September. They held a 1.3% lead, which was thanks in large part to Biden's record-high approval ratings that month.
Republicans seem to have rallied in the last three weeks and are slowly gaining momentum. When voters are asked what party they support, Republicans now carry a 2.2% lead.
“After the Dobbs ruling, the Kansas referendum, and several special election victories, the focus had shifted, at least somewhat, off of exclusively the economy, and that was to the Democrats’ benefit,” said Democratic strategist and Fox News Contributor Jessica Tarlov.
The shift in party support this summer made Democrats more optimistic, but now their victory comes down to wins in key battleground states like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
“I never thought Democrats would hold the House, but expected a slim GOP majority. Now it’s looking like it could be dozens of seats,” said Tarlov. “I believe there’s time to get it back under control, but messaging has to be laser-focused on the economy and crime, with little else.”
Related: Joe Biden Hits Record High Approval Rating Thanks to This Surprising Demographic
A Tight Race
A New York Times/Siena College poll published on Monday showed Republicans carrying a 4-point lead, 49% to 45%, over Democrats with regard to who voters preferred to represent them in Congress. Just last month, a similar poll showed Democrats with a 1-point lead.
GOP strategist Karl Rove attributes this change of opinion to strong debate performances by GOP candidates, successful fundraising for ad campaigns, and Biden's continued “disconnect” with voters regarding the economy.
The economy has consistently topped voters' list of concerns going into this election, but Biden is reportedly still focusing on abortion, having pledged in a speech on Tuesday that he will push for legislation that would codify Roe v. Wade. This legislation would only be able to be pushed through if Democrats manage to hold onto control of Congress.
Related: Is Biden's Mental Capacity a Serious Issue?
Did Democrats Blow It?
Erin Perrine, the vice president at Tag Strategies and former communications director for Senator Ted Cruz, had this to say on whether or not the Democrats have blown their shot: “Three weeks is an eternity in politics, news cycles, and campaigns, but at this point, Democrats blew their lead by not listening to voters' concerns, and now they have to protect seats Biden handily won in 2020.
The runway for Democrats is shortening quickly, with many states already starting the voting process. The likelihood they magically turn it around seems slim.”
More Articles From the Wealth of Geeks Network:
- Abortion Rights Could Decide U.S. Midterm Elections in Democrats' Favor
- Will the Midterm Elections Affect the Stock Market Negatively?
This article was produced and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.
source https://wealthofgeeks.com/democrats-blow-lead/
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