Oil prices weigh on Trump’s approval, pushing it to new low; polling shows Democrats leading Republicans by wide margin
On Monday, Reuters and Ipsos released survey results showing that rising gasoline prices have driven President Donald Trump’s approval rating to a historic low, with voters likely to penalize his Republican Party in the November 3 congressional elections.
The four-day survey found that only 31% of Americans approve of Trump’s performance in office. This marks a one-point decline from two weeks prior and represents the lowest level recorded during his two terms in office.
When asked which party they would vote for in a congressional election held today, 47% of registered voters said they would support the Democratic Party, compared to 35% for the Republican Party. The Democratic lead stands at 12 percentage points—the largest gap observed in this electoral cycle—increasing the likelihood that Democrats could gain control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
For Republicans, losing control of either chamber—even one—would significantly hinder Trump’s ability to advance his policy agenda over the remaining two years of his term.
National-level party preference polls—known as generic ballot surveys—offer a general indication of voter inclination toward which party should lead Congress. However, such surveys do not capture the nuances of individual state and district races, which ultimately determine seat allocations in Congress. Republicans still hold structural advantages in many local electoral districts.
By comparison, in the same survey conducted two weeks earlier, Democrats led by just seven points: 44% to 37%.
The decline in Republican candidate favorability is partly attributable to a growing share of female voters planning to support Democrats: 50% of women said they would back Democratic candidates, versus only 32% who favored Republican nominees. Among male voters, Democrats also led, though by a narrower margin. Trump’s approval has been declining since February, when he authorized a military strike against Iran in coordination with allied nations. The ensuing conflict contributed to higher gasoline prices, increasing economic strain on American households.
The survey reveals that 68% of Americans disapprove of Trump’s economic policies, including 37% of self-identified Republican supporters. Meanwhile, 40% of respondents believe the Democratic Party is better at managing the economy, compared to only 33% who trust the Republican Party’s economic competence.
The online survey included interviews with 1,679 U.S. adults, among whom 1,279 were registered voters.
The overall margin of error for all respondents is ±2 percentage points; for registered voters, it is ±3 percentage points.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1879536460746891/
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