Aaron Zitner reports on a new Wall Street Journal poll that shows Democrats getting their lowest ratings from voters in 35 years. Journal editor-in-chief Emma Tucker summarized the poll yesterday in her daily newsletter. At the top of the newsletter she writes: “Americans don’t think Democrats could do a better job. That’s one stark takeaway from a new WSJ poll, which found that the share of voters who hold an unfavorable view of the Democratic Party is at its highest point in Journal polls dating to 1990.” This is the third item in her 10-point summary of the Journal’s news pages — let’s enjoy it while we can:
The survey finds that 63% of voters hold an unfavorable view of the Democratic Party—the highest share in Journal polls dating to 1990 and 30 points higher than the 33% who hold a favorable view. That’s a far weaker assessment than voters give to Trump or the GOP, who are viewed more unfavorably than favorably by 7 points and 11 points, respectively. Democrats have been hoping voter backlash against Trump will help them recapture their House majority next year. But the poll shows the party hasn’t persuaded voters they can do a better job, reports Aaron Zitner. Voters disapprove of Trump on the economy, inflation, tariffs and foreign policy, yet trust Republicans more than Democrats to handle those issues in Congress, the poll found.
I think “askance” is the right word.
This should put a damper on the schadenfreude:
Democrats enter the early phases of the election cycle with several advantages in addition to their lead on the question of which party a voter would support today, including signs of higher motivation to vote.
The weight of history favors Democrats, as presidents rarely escape a voter backlash in their first midterm election. McInturff, the Republican pollster, points out that five successive presidents have lost control of Congress, including former President Barack Obama, whose party lost 63 seats in the Tea Party tidal wave in the first election after he took office.
Moreover, voters are continually looking for change. In nine of the last 10 presidential or midterm elections, voters have changed party control of the House, Senate or White House.
Trump, with his aggressive agenda and promises to shake up the political establishment, has been the epitome of a change candidate. But in the new Journal survey, 51% say the change he is bringing is a form of chaos and dysfunction that will hurt the country. By contrast, 45% agree with the alternative statement that he is making needed and helpful changes.
Whole thing here.
