Democrats Hold 9-Point Lead As US Senate Races Tighten

WASHINGTON, DC-Democrats are leading Republicans by nine points on the generic congressional ballot ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, as polling points to a difficult political climate for President Donald Trump’s party and competitive Senate races open up opportunities for Democrats in the South.

An NBC News Decision Desk poll of registered voters put Trump’s approval rating at 39 per cent, according to the network’s chief data analyst Steve Kornacki, who discussed the findings on ‘Meet the Press’. The generic ballot measures which party voters would support in congressional elections.

The Cook Political Report has moved 11 additional House races towards Democrats, according to its latest assessment of the contests.

On CBS’s ‘Face the Nation’, the network reported that Democrats had the edge in the race for the House. Democrats need four seats to take control of the Senate, where several contests remain closely fought.

A new CBS News/YouGov poll of registered voters in Texas showed the Senate race between Democratic candidate James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton at 51 per cent to 49 per cent, respectively, making it a closely contested race.

CBS News executive director of elections and surveys Anthony Salvanto said Talarico was performing better among independent voters and those facing financial pressure from rising prices. The poll surveyed 1,492 registered voters from October 8 to 16.

Democrats also face competitive races in states where they are defending Senate seats. Salvanto described Michigan’s contest as a toss-up and said Republican Senator Susan Collins was in a neck-and-neck race in Maine, which he also characterized as a toss-up.

Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock of Georgia has argued that his party should invest more heavily in the South. He has campaigned in South Carolina, Mississippi and North Carolina as Democrats seek to expand their opportunities beyond traditional battlegrounds.

“Democrats can absolutely win in these states. In fact, the road to a Democratic majority in both houses of Congress is in the South,” Warnock said on ‘Meet the Press’.

“We have to end this war, stop the tariffs, fix health care,” he added, outlining issues he believes Democrats should prioritize.

Republican Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma urged voters to turn out, saying the election outcome remained uncertain.

“Only God knows what actually will happen. But every single voter needs to show up to actually vote,” he said.

On CNN’s ‘State of the Union’, a presenter cited a Washington Post poll indicating that 58 per cent of respondents wanted Democrats to act as a check on Trump. The specific poll question and methodology should be confirmed against the original report before publication.

Control of the Senate will shape the administration’s ability to advance its agenda and determine the extent of congressional oversight of Trump’s policies, including tariffs and sanctions. Close contests in states such as Texas, Michigan and Maine could prove important as both parties seek control of the chamber. (IANS)