Welcome to From the Politics Desk, a daily newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics team’s latest reporting and analysis from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail.In today’s edition, Ben Kamisar and Bridget Bowman share their observations from our latest round of voter focus groups.Plus, we dive into the role Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are playing in the midterms.Sign up to receive this newsletter in your inbox every weekday here.— Adam WollnerFocus groups: Deep anxiety about the economy drives undecided voters in two key Senate racesBy Ben Kamisar and Bridget BowmanConcerns about the economy and high costs are driving the thinking of undecided voters in Iowa and Georgia, according to new focus group conversations, as two states that will be central to the fight for the Senate barrel toward Election Day.“Nothing has gotten better as far as the cost of living, inflation — food is astronomical, gas,” said Patty O., a 59-year-old Georgia Republican who voted for Donald Trump in 2024.
“The cost of living is so high right now.”Patty was among a dozen voters up for grabs in two Senate races who participated this week in focus groups produced by Syracuse University and the research firms Engagious and Sago and observed by NBC News.The group comprised six independents, five Republicans and one Democrat.
Nine voted for Trump for president two years ago, when he won both states, while three supported then-Vice President Kamala Harris.All but three of the voters said they feel more anxious about the economy today than when Trump returned to office.Eight said Trump is not focused enough on the issue.“Among these undecided voters, pervasive economic anxiety is the animating issue in the midterms — not Iran, not immigration, not Israel/Gaza,” said Rich Thau of Engagious, who moderated the sessions.Overall, eight of the 12 undecided voters said they disapproved of Trump’s job performance during his second term, even though a majo...