There are now less than four months until the midterm elections in
this country, and Democrats are facing a series of headwinds from
inflation to gun violence to abortion rights that are affecting the
attitude of Democratic voters.
Meantime, as we have reported a New New York Times Sienna College
poll out this week shows 60% of voters, including a quarter of Democrats
disapprove of the job. President Biden is doing.
Laura Barone Lopez has more on that democratic discontent.
Duty despite the president's low approval ratings. That same poll
shows the picture may not be as bleak for Democratic congressional
candidates. Voters are evenly divided on which party should control
Congress after the midterms.
To discuss how Democrats are feeling about this election year. I'm
joined by Celinda Lake. She is the president of Lake Research Partners,
a Democratic polling group that regularly conducts focus groups with
voters. She was also an adviser for President Biden's 2020 campaign.
Celinda. Thanks for joining us. Let's look beyond the numbers because
you're talking to Democrats and new voters in these focus groups.
It's been three weeks since Roe was overturned. There's a new gun
law. Why are President Biden's approval ratings stuck? Well, Democrats
are starting to see favorable movement.
Well, I think it's always slower. The presidential numbers are always
slower to move and the presidential numbers are very tied to the
economy and inflation is still a big problem. People don't expect
their Congress person to solve the economy they unrealistically do
expect their president to solve the economy, including their own
personal gas prices, and the price was skirt steak and and their
grocery store.
Um So I think that, um
When you get to the congressional races, people are voting a lot
more their local issues and what's happening in their states. They're
voting things that are clear distinctions between the candidates,
and there is no clear distinction between the candidates right now,
then opinions on the overturning of Roe v. Wade and access to abortion
and birth control for women.
You mentioned row and I wanted to ask you. What are voters saying
about what appears to some within his party, a cautious approach
by President Biden in terms of executive actions to expand abortion
access, as well as shield patients.
Voters don't see it as cautious. Voters actually see the president
as being very vocal, and the vice president has been very vocal as
well. And when vote Nothing's penetrating right now there's so much
noise out there. It's really hard to break through. But when you
relate what the president the vice president had been doing what
they've said they're going to try to do that. They want to
Do away with the filibuster to codify row that they are applying
every level at their disposal. People are pretty impressed with that
agenda. People are worried about what they can do and what can still
be done with this really dramatic and out of the mainstream decision.
And they want to ensure that people have access to abortion care,
access to birth control. Access to safe um and legal, uh and
nonintrusive miscarriage care, And they're also worried about the
slippery slope. They're worried about what happens now to marriage
equality. What happens to interracial marriage?
Where are we going next on another issue of inflation, which is a
big issue for Democrats heading into the midterms. Consumer prices
are up 9.1% since last year, and that's driven by food prices up
12%. The cost of housing is up nearly 6%.
Is this dragging down Democrats and what do voters want them to do
about it? Well, voters want to hear from Democrats on it to begin
with. Voters are very concerned when Democrats were saying this was
going to be temporary inflation are transitional inflation and voters
would say things like what planet are these economists living on?
Um, I'm not getting a transitory wage increase to deal with my transitory
inflation. So the first thing is to recognize the problem and you
don't have a Democrat out there. Um, who's not articulate on this
problem?
And then using again all the tools at their disposal to deal with
inflation, whether it's supply issues and and baby formula, whether
it's opening up petroleum reserves, whether it's going after price
scratching on prescription drugs.
Um, they want action. But in the end, I think that we can only battle
to even on the economy. And then I think the winning issues in this
fall. I'm going to be things like gun violence and voting rights
and Roe v. Wade. I want to cover two more quick topics with you,
Celinda. The January six hearings have provided new evidence about
former President Trump's efforts to pressure Justice Department officials
to even pressure his own vice president.
To overturn the 2020 election results. Are these revelations coming
up in your focus groups with democratic or independent voters? They
really are. They're coming up with Democrats Salon. First of all,
65% of voters are aware of the hearings and at least aware of some
of the findings from the hearings and among independent voters. It's
actually slightly higher. It's 71% that is unheard of. You never
have independence, paying more attention.
Ah, then Democrats and Republicans to what's going on. Voters think
it's a crime 82% of voters want accountability. Independents and
Democrats really want accountability and they're furious about the
will of the people being overturned and January 6th is just the beginning.
That attack on our country was the beginning of overturning elections,
overturning the will of the people overturning people's votes.
And now we have row over turning people's Will. There was voters
solidly opposing the decision. So this is a very big issue, and it's
penetrated way more than anyone would have imagined. Despite all
of those issues that you just mentioned that could very well potentially
motivate Democratic voters. Recent polling shows that a majority
of Democrats don't want President Biden to be the nominee in 2024.
But are they naming any alternatives?
Oh, I think that those numbers are very flat. Honestly, It's a really
silly question. In some ways, First of all, people are not naming
alternatives. Secondly, a Democrats give the president's solidly
positive job performance ratings. Three quarters are better.
Thirdly, voters almost say it, As you know, in the sense of it's
a really hard job, and maybe I'll offer him a retirement because
it'll be easier on him. Not that it would be better for us.
So those questions are extremely flawed. And I think what you'll
see is Democrats uniting behind Democrats, Democrats uniting behind
the president and supporting his agenda overwhelmingly
Celinda Lake. Thank you so much for joining us today.
Thank you so much.
And thank you, Laura, and we will be speaking with a Republican strategist
about these and similar topics in coming days.