basquebromance
Diamond Member
- Nov 26, 2015
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Biden and the Dems are doomed
www.politico.com
excerpts:
Rep. Jared Golden is facing one of the toughest reelection battles in the country. One thing he says doesn’t keep him up at night, though, is President Joe Biden’s sinking approval rating.
“I really don't care at all. I've got my own approach to doing things,” the Maine Democrat said, adding that he handily outran Biden in Trump country. “What I know about his approval ratings right now versus my own is that I'm outpacing him by about 30 points."
Golden's nonchalance is rare.
Most Democrats are worried that Biden’s flagging polling numbers — with an approval hovering in the low 40s — will lead to a thrashing at the ballot box. With historical headwinds and a GOP-dominated redistricting process already working against them, they fear that unless Biden pulls out of his current slide, Congress will be handed to the Republicans in next year's midterms.
Even the party's own polling has the president in the red. A poll from House Democrats’ campaign arm earlier this month showed the president down in battleground districts across the country, with 52 percent of voters disapproving of the job he’s doing, according to three party members briefed on the data.
But even a favorable Senate map might not be enough. Morning Consult found Biden underwater in the battleground states of Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Nevada and Arizona. Democratic senators are generally running ahead of the president, according to the House Democratic campaign arm's poll — the question is, how much they need to do so in order to win.
Still, some fret that even if they do pass Biden’s marquee agenda item — the $1.7 trillion climate and social policy bill — it won’t bring the big bump at the polls that Democrats are hoping for. House Ways and Means Chair Richard Neal (D-Mass.) advised his party to focus on “seizing credit.”
“The messaging challenge is pretty apparent. When you look at the individual parts of what we’ve done, they’re all not just marginally popular, but they’re wildly popular with the American electorate,” Neal said
Despite the high anxiety, don’t necessarily expect Democrats to run away from the president. Incumbent Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) said that while her focus is on legislating at the moment, "the president’s always welcome in New Hampshire.” And an aide to incumbent Sen. Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-Nev.) said she would campaign with him, calling him an “important ally.”
many battleground Democrats privately say they are highly skeptical of that positive spin and are relying on their own tactics to ensure they fend off Republican challengers in next year's toughest-to-defend seats.
“I’d like to see his numbers turn around, just because I think there’s a false narrative in many cases about supply chain shortages, gas prices or whatever,” said vulnerable Rep. Susan Wild (D-Pa.). But, she added, "I care more about my own numbers."
“I honestly believe that in my district, and in many districts, that it’s a mistake to try to tie your election or reelection to any president.”
Dems plot escape from Biden’s poll woes
The party’s own polling has the president in the red. Lawmakers know they need to get better at selling his agenda to avert midterm disaster.
www.politico.com
excerpts:
Rep. Jared Golden is facing one of the toughest reelection battles in the country. One thing he says doesn’t keep him up at night, though, is President Joe Biden’s sinking approval rating.
“I really don't care at all. I've got my own approach to doing things,” the Maine Democrat said, adding that he handily outran Biden in Trump country. “What I know about his approval ratings right now versus my own is that I'm outpacing him by about 30 points."
Golden's nonchalance is rare.
Most Democrats are worried that Biden’s flagging polling numbers — with an approval hovering in the low 40s — will lead to a thrashing at the ballot box. With historical headwinds and a GOP-dominated redistricting process already working against them, they fear that unless Biden pulls out of his current slide, Congress will be handed to the Republicans in next year's midterms.
Even the party's own polling has the president in the red. A poll from House Democrats’ campaign arm earlier this month showed the president down in battleground districts across the country, with 52 percent of voters disapproving of the job he’s doing, according to three party members briefed on the data.
But even a favorable Senate map might not be enough. Morning Consult found Biden underwater in the battleground states of Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Nevada and Arizona. Democratic senators are generally running ahead of the president, according to the House Democratic campaign arm's poll — the question is, how much they need to do so in order to win.
Still, some fret that even if they do pass Biden’s marquee agenda item — the $1.7 trillion climate and social policy bill — it won’t bring the big bump at the polls that Democrats are hoping for. House Ways and Means Chair Richard Neal (D-Mass.) advised his party to focus on “seizing credit.”
“The messaging challenge is pretty apparent. When you look at the individual parts of what we’ve done, they’re all not just marginally popular, but they’re wildly popular with the American electorate,” Neal said
Despite the high anxiety, don’t necessarily expect Democrats to run away from the president. Incumbent Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) said that while her focus is on legislating at the moment, "the president’s always welcome in New Hampshire.” And an aide to incumbent Sen. Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-Nev.) said she would campaign with him, calling him an “important ally.”
many battleground Democrats privately say they are highly skeptical of that positive spin and are relying on their own tactics to ensure they fend off Republican challengers in next year's toughest-to-defend seats.
“I’d like to see his numbers turn around, just because I think there’s a false narrative in many cases about supply chain shortages, gas prices or whatever,” said vulnerable Rep. Susan Wild (D-Pa.). But, she added, "I care more about my own numbers."
“I honestly believe that in my district, and in many districts, that it’s a mistake to try to tie your election or reelection to any president.”
