Democrats May Win Big In Senate Upheaval
The first votes of the 2016 general election will be cast on September 23, when Minnesota and South Dakota open the Early Voting ballots. At Labor Day, with less than three weeks until the first early votes are cast, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton remains ahead of Republican rival Donald Trump by a margin of about five percentage points in national polls.
“Swing voters are torn,” writes Charlie Cook in the National Journal. “They tend to see Clinton as smart, knowledgeable, experienced, and competent, but they don’t like or trust her.”
As for Trump, “Many like the fact that [he] is not a politician and speaks his mind,” Cook adds. “They may even agree, partially or totally, with the real estate mogul on immigration or handling terrorism, but they question his temperament, judgment, maturity, and understanding of issues and policy.”
Beyond the presidency, the 2016 general election may change the make-up of the US Senate, and even win back a majority for the Democrats.
According to Politico, a dozen states are in play for the Democrats, and Trump’s controversial rhetoric and policies may be hurting the GOP.
Following a very public feud between Donald Trump and the Gold Star family of the fallen US soldier Humayun Khan, an ad went on air in North Carolina attacking Trump.
“We are just getting killed on the airwaves,” a Republican strategist said of the North Carolina Senate race. “It’s not just affecting Donald Trump. If you’re running an ad in North Carolina, which has a huge military operation, talking about Gold Star families, [the ad] just doesn’t have to say [North Carolina’s incumbent Republican Senator]‘Richard Burr.’ It still hurts.”
Georgia is facing a very similar situation as North Carolina, with Republican incumbent Sen. Johnny Isakson defending his seat against Democratic competitor Jim Barksdale.
“Georgia can turn blue very easily,” Barksdale said. “The things Trump has said have been very alarming, and I don’t envy [Isakson’s] situation. He’s trying to play it in a way where he doesn’t lose Trump voters.”
But two historically unpopular Presidential candidates may have significant effects down ballot.
According to the National Journal, Cook writes, “[d]on’t be surprised to see swing voters in some of these pivotal Senate race states hedging their bets down ballot.”
Sources: National Journal, Politico / Photo Credit: Trelaine Ito / Instagram