Democratic and GOP strategists on how Trump's unpopularity is shaping the midterms

With the midterms weeks away, polling leans toward Democrats, and two veteran strategists, Democrat Mo Elleithee and Republican Doug Heye, told PBS NewsHour that President Donald Trump's unpopularity is steering the closing campaign. Heye said Trump's constant controversies crowd out the cost-of-living message Republicans such as Michael Whatley in North Carolina and Ashley Hinson in Iowa would prefer to deliver. He added that, unlike in 2006, GOP candidates now risk public attacks from the president if they distance themselves from him.

Elleithee said voters are focused on living costs, especially at the gas pump, and on government corruption. He tied rising prices to Trump's tariffs and the war in Iran, and said Democrats can argue Congress has failed to check the president under Republican control.

In Iowa, where diesel tops $6 a gallon, Hinson and Democrat Josh Turek both oppose a proposed diesel deal with Russia but split over Iran. Turek said Hinson voted seven times to continue the war. Hinson said the president and military can end it without another House resolution.

Elleithee also criticized Trump's attacks on Michigan Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, saying the president lacks a record his party can campaign on.

Summarized by PolitiKool from PBS NewsHour’s reporting. Read the full story at PBS NewsHour →