Politicians and political analysts seem to have a love-hate relationship with polling, since the numbers aren’t gospel, but they can’t go ignored, either. A new Rasmussen poll seems to be such an example. It shows Republicans closing the gap with Democrats with midterm elections just 26 days away.
Down in the poll numbers, both political parties are likely poring over figures that show a bump for GOP candidates from independent voters as well as Hispanic voters. Republicans have halved an 18-point deficit among independents, the poll found, and support among Hispanics is 50%-42% versus Democrats.
Rasmussen, which leans right in its political surveying, polled 1,794 likely voters in late September.
Reacting to the positive new poll, Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.) didn’t downplay the polling, but he told “Washington Watch” host Tony Perkins what matters more is Election Day turnout.
“I’ll tell you, first, that's great news,” the Congressman told Perkins. “But the one poll that really matters is going to be on November the 3rd.”
Reacting to the Rasmussen survey, Perkins said the polling among Hispanic voters stands out the most and is the most surprising to him. That’s because the Trump administration has been accused of “overreach” for finding and deporting illegal immigrants to fulfill a campaign promise of mass deportations.
“I think what's driving this,” Perkins, referring to the poll, said, “is that many of them have come to this country from socialistic countries. They know what’s at stake in this election.”
Clyde called Perkin’s observation “absolutely right,” because many immigrant families have first-hand knowledge of what socialism and communism have done to their home countries.
“They know the pitfalls of it,” he said. “They know how dangerous that is and how it takes away people’s freedoms and liberties.”
GOP helped by socialist crazies
Midterm elections traditionally favor the party out of power, which is the Democrats, who are slamming the GOP with campaign ads about affording groceries and the eye-popping cost of filling up your car and truck.
That message resonates, too, since Republicans can’t blame the Democrats when they control the White House and both houses of Congress.
It didn’t help, either, when the message from Republicans is to suggest finding other meat to eat when ground beef is averaging almost $7 a pound nationwide.
The price of diesel, which affects shipping and thus everything on a shelf, hit a new nationwide record over the summer, AAA reported.
During his midterm tour, the message from President Trump on the campaign trail is America's choice is $4 gas or getting hit with a nuke from Iran, after he bragged in February that Iran's nuclear facilities were "obliterated" by B-2 bombers.
Meanwhile, unhappy and frustrated voters have witnessed the DSA, the Democratic Socialists of America, gain political power this summer. Backed by a grassroots network, DSA defeated incumbent Democrats in several primaries and demonstrated the DSA’s growing influence, especially among under-30 voters.
After approving its platform in July, DSA is now telling voters it will push for free healthcare and a 32-hour work week if its candidates win office. It also wants to give blanket amnesty to illegal immigrants, who number about 18 million, and abolish the U.S. Senate and the U.S. Supreme Court, and allow a newly formed Congress to choose the next president of the United States.
“It’s critically important,” Rep. Clyde told Perkins, “that we ensure the Democratic Socialists – really the Democratic Communists – that they don’t need to be in power.”
