Concerns about a potential ‘blue wave’ may have been bolstered by a new poll which appears to show Democrats are more energized for the 2018 midterm elections following the Kavanaugh confirmation fight than their Republican counterparts.
According to a new POLITICO/Morning Consult poll, 46 percent of Americans believe it was wrong to confirm Kavanaugh, while 40 percent stated it was the right thing to do.
Worse, there is a nine-point gap in enthusiasm (77 percent to 68 percent) between Democrats and Republicans who say they are “very motivated” to head to the ballot box in November.
If accurate, it could spell trouble for Republicans in the House, which has long been considered a potential flip for the left.
Are Republican voters really going to legitimize this kind of behavior – the lies, the cheating, the deception, the downright criminal smears by the Democrat Party – by succumbing to apathy and staying home in November?
Poll: Kavanaugh confirmation energizes Democrats more than GOPhttps://t.co/1UpRzKgPnK
— POLITICO (@politico) October 10, 2018
The breakdown of respondents isn’t posted in the story, and one demographic isn’t mentioned – Independents.
A recent poll from CNN shows Independents disapproved of Democrat’s handling of the Kavanaugh confirmation process by a margin of 58 to 30.
[totalpoll id=”149503″]
That doesn’t necessarily translate into motivation, however. Are people disgusted with both parties, though recognizing the Democrats handled the process far worse, going to be revved up to vote?
In a new CBS News poll, a majority of voters in 4 states with key Senate races said the issue of Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination makes them more likely to vote https://t.co/Eu1kOulUYM pic.twitter.com/06bgjFXl6e
— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) October 9, 2018
Some key races seem to indicate that answering a question about being motivated to go to the polls isn’t translating to actual good news for Democrat candidates.
Senator Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) had already fallen behind her Republican opponent by double digits prior to voting against Kavanaugh, bucking the wishes of a majority of the state’s voters who said it was important to them that he be confirmed. The move was widely viewed as her throwing in the towel on the election.
Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) opened up a decent lead on his challenger Beto O’Rourke (D), who recently admitted he would not have voted to confirm Kavanaugh.
The Supreme Court fight has had a profound effect on the race for Jeff Flake’s soon-to-be-open seat in Arizona, with support for Republican Congresswoman Martha McSally skyrocketing throughout the process.
Kavanaugh effect? New Arizona Senate poll has McSally ahead of Sinema by 6. https://t.co/2awjtKHgFD
— Tom Bevan (@TomBevanRCP) October 10, 2018
Contrasting the Politico/Morning Consult poll is one conducted by Rasmussen Reports, which shows 50 percent of likely voters think Kavanaugh belongs on the Supreme Court, while 42 percent disagree.
There will be plenty of conflicting information and polls leading up to the midterms, but one thing is clear – the struggle for control of the House and Senate remains up in the air. And anything can happen over the next month.
What will that mean for Kavanaugh, or President Trump, who the Democrats have vowed will both be subject to impeachment?
The Kavanaugh debacle was just a preview of what the Democrats would like to do to conservatives.
