Alvin Bragg has been trying to grab headlines by bringing up Donald Trump’s past relationships and friendships, but Trump remains ahead of President Joe Biden in swing-state polls. According to the latest polls from the New York Times and Siena College, Trump is leading Biden by significant margins in Nevada, Georgia, Michigan, Arizona, and Pennsylvania, with Wisconsin being the only state where Biden is ahead, but by a small margin among likely voters.
A separate poll from the Financial Times attributes Trump’s lead to the negative impact of Bidenomics on the economy. Rising inflation rates and a majority of registered voters expressing negativity towards economic conditions have led to a decrease in Biden’s approval ratings. Despite this, Trump has not significantly boosted other Republican candidates in swing states, as many Trump supporters are not loyal to down-ballot GOP candidates.
The quality of Republican candidates may also be a factor in their struggles to gain traction in swing-state races. Polling expert Sean Trende believes that Democratic incumbents’ leads may be weaker than they seem due to undecided voters in down-ballot races. However, there is a lesson for Republicans to learn from these trends.
The toxic nature of Biden’s personal brand, especially in relation to his handling of the economy, has made him less popular than the Democratic Party in purple states. Running Trump, who is a known figure with a track record, gives Republicans a clear line of attack against Bidenomics and its impact on the economy. Ultimately, the lesson for Republicans is that emphasizing the economy and contrasting it with the previous administration’s performance could be a winning strategy in swing states.
