Photo: Digital Vision
According to new polling from NBC News, just 36% of voters approve of President Trump’s handling of the economy and inflation. So does that mean the Republicans are doomed to lose in November?
If Democrats actually manage to get their messaging in order and capitalize off that disapproval, they could perform well. But political strategist Raven Harrison is doubtful that they’ll be able to do that.
She explained: “What you’re seeing is a mass exodus from the Democrat Party, which is why you’re seeing the obstruction going on. They are standing off against Homeland Security about getting that funded. Their initial objection was that they didn’t want ICE funded, but ICE is funded through next year.”
Essentially, she believes the Democrats are too focused on retaining power through obstruction, but that message doesn’t appeal to voters beyond their radical base. She believes if things continue as they are now, the Democrats will likely just be headed for congressional gridlock, not a blue wave.
That being said, there is still opportunity for the GOP to gain ground during the midterm cycle. Harrison explained: “The key to the midterm is going to be the SAVE Act. Whether we can get this to the finish line. This is an issue that goes across the aisle.”
She believes that because of how popular the SAVE Act is, if Republicans can get it passed, that might demonstrate enough capacity to govern to overshadow any concerns voters might continue to have about the economy.
Harrison also pointed to the start of tax season—when many Americans file for and receive their tax returns—as an opportunity for pressure to be relieved, saying: “These tax cuts, that Democrats have been overwhelmingly against, have been the spur to getting our economy back. It’s what Democrats used in the first term.”
She says receiving those tax returns will help make the economic progress of the Big Beautiful Bill feel more real to Americans across the country.