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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIndependent Voters Now Tilting Toward Democrats in Midterm Elections, WSJ Poll Finds
Democrats are entering the homestretch before Novembers election in better shape than earlier this year, boosted by gains among independent voters, improved views of President Biden and higher voting enthusiasm among abortion-rights supporters, a Wall Street Journal poll shows.
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Democrats hold a slight edge over Republicans, 47% to 44%, when voters are asked which party they would support in their congressional district if the election were held today, a lead that is within the polls margin of error of plus or minus 2.7 percentage points. Republicans had a five-point advantage in March. The Democratic gains come from increased support among independents, women and younger voters. Black and Hispanic voters, who have traditionally favored Democrats heavily, are also more solidly supportive of the party than they were earlier this year. Among political independents, typically the key to victory in close elections, more voters now favor a Democratic candidate for Congress than a Republican, 38% to 35%. In March, Republicans led among independents by 12 percentage points.
(snip)
At 60%, those who say abortion should be legal in all or most cases represent a majority of voters, up 5 percentage points from March. More than half of voters say the Supreme Courts elimination of the federal constitutional right to an abortion has made them more likely to vote. In a separate question, voters cited the court ruling as the single issue most likely to make them vote this November, ahead of four other issues tested, including inflation, border security, gun violence and the Federal Bureau of Investigations search of former President Donald Trumps Florida home. The court (Roe) ruling was especially salient for white, suburban women, a group known for switching between the two parties in recent elections and who say they would back a Democratic candidate over a Republican, 52% to 40%.
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Mr. Biden looks like less of a drag on his partys candidates than earlier this year. His job approval has risen to 45%, up from 42% in March, while 54% disapprove of his performance... Favorable views of Mr. Trump declined slightly, and Mr. Biden leads him in a hypothetical rematch of the last presidential election, 50% to 44%. The two men had been tied in March. In the test match-up, Mr. Biden leads among independents, 46% to 38%. The survey was largely taken before Mr. Bidens decision to cancel student debt for millions of Americans, a move Republicans have called a handout to college graduates at the expense of others that they hope to turn into a top line of attack. Many Democratic officials say the presidents move would create economic opportunity for Americans struggling to pay off college debts.
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Voters trust Democrats more than Republicans on ensuring that the rich and corporations pay their fair share in taxes, lowering prescription drug costs, reducing gun violence and improving education, the poll found. They trust Republicans over Democrats to reduce crime, secure the border and fix the immigration system.
The Wall Street Journal poll of 1,313 registered voters, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.7 percentage points, was conducted Aug. 17-25 by Impact Research and Fabrizio, Lee & Associates. Half of the interviews were done on cellphones, with the remaining split evenly between landline phones and text messaging accompanied by an online survey.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/democratic-midterm-prospects-improve-as-races-heat-up-wsj-poll-finds-11662024601 (subscription)

SheltieLover
(62,017 posts)
Cha
(306,910 posts)of our Dem Leaders!
CatWoman
(79,861 posts)Demovictory9
(34,287 posts)Wounded Bear
(61,201 posts)bucolic_frolic
(48,472 posts)Criminals reduce crime? Secure the border with leaky walls? Fix immigration with what - detention camps?
Democrats should address these issues to erase them from the GOP column. Should be a slam dunk
samsingh
(17,964 posts)Justice matters.
(7,816 posts)Let's Go Roe-vember!
Beat the GQP Fascists.
Erase 'em at the poll.
GOTV
onetexan
(13,913 posts)moose65
(3,351 posts)I always want to meet these so-called "Independent" voters.
Are there really people out there who, during one election cycle, would vote for some wild-eyed, crazy Republican because reasons, and in the next election they would vote for a sane, "boring" Democrat who is actually competent? I just don't understand people like that.
More likely, I think, is that all independent voters are inherently either left-leaning or right-leaning. They are the people who would choose to not vote in an election, rather than to vote for the other side. Success in elections boils down to which side motivates their own voters to get out and vote.
It is useless trying to appeal to the other side's voters. We as Democrats need to learn that, especially in midterm elections. The election is won by the side that motivates its own voters.
question everything
(49,502 posts)Many chose to stay home in 1968 because Humphrey was not anti war enough; and many chose to stay home in 2016 because they did not like Hillary, or something..
Hieronymus Phact
(529 posts)The killer 2010 cycle when everyone stayed home and the Republicans took over everything and gerrymandered themselves a nice majority for years to come. We're still paying for that one.
onetexan
(13,913 posts)Martin68
(24,906 posts)DownriverDem
(6,735 posts)on Labor Day is ahead. Glad the winds are blowing left.
lees1975
(6,234 posts)the questions are worded and the data is analyzed.
More than anything else, including the increasing poll numbers favoring Democrats, what convinces me that the Democrats will maintain majorities in both Houses is the reaction of Republicans, and especially Trumpies, to Biden's speeches this week, and to the news that they are now running behind in the polls. They are using their last resort desperate measures, threats of violence, McCarthy talking about the investigations they will run when they win control of the House, and Trump saying he will pardon the January 6th traitors. Those are intentionally extreme words, and speaking them runs the risk of motivating any non-extremist Republicans or independents to go vote for a Democrat.
The fact that the President's speech got an immediate, intemperate reaction betrays the fear they have that they are going to lose. From a strategic perspective, a muted, casual reaction or silence would have demonstrated calm confidence. These uncoordinated hysterics are a sign of their knowledge of a catastrophic, looming defeat.
SouthernDem4ever
(6,618 posts)I hope they do more than just tilt. How can ANY sane person vote for totally crazy repuglicans?