Why Democrats may need a gut check on their midterm ambitions: From the Politics Desk
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, Natasha Korecki writes that some Democrats fear the party’s election expectations are getting too rosy.Plus, Ben Kamisar dives into one big factor working in the GOP’s favor.
— Adam WollnerWhy Democrats may need a gut check on their midterm ambitionsAnalysis by Natasha KoreckiDemocrats have had an extraordinary run of good news with less than a month until Election Day.Polls show President Donald Trump’s approval rating in free fall amid growing angst over his handling of the economy and the Iran war.Key groups, like Latinos, are abandoning Republicans in droves.
Prognosticators increasingly shifting race ratings in Democrats’ direction has spurred a litany of headlines about the potential prizes awaiting the party.Can they snag a Senate seat in Kansas? What about South Carolina? In addition to the Texas Senate contest, can Democrat Gina Hinojosa knock out Republican Gov.
Greg Abbott? “I’ve been trying to tell yall: Don’t sleep on Mississippi,” the longtime Democratic strategist James Carville posted on X last week, referring to the Senate race in a state Trump carried by 23 points two years ago.As crunch time hits these campaigns, Democrats have critical questions before them: Should they reach for the stars? Or are they getting starry-eyed? We’ve all been here before.A poll-driven media cycle that paints a far rosier picture for one party (Republicans in 2022) or another (Democrats in 2024).
One Democratic national strategist working on races across the country said the party needs to pump the brakes on its optimism.“The Senate is far from secure,” said the strategist, who was not authorized to comment publicly.
“We should remain aggressive in Maine and Michigan, single-digit presidential states that are not yet secure organiz...