Tamara Keith and Carrie Dann on Trump's approval rating hitting a record low

President Donald Trump's job approval has sunk to 33 percent, the lowest of either of his terms, according to a Washington Post/ABC News/Ipsos poll. The same survey shows Democrats ahead by eight points as the November elections near, which raises the question of how much the president helps or hurts Republican candidates, according to PBS NewsHour.

NPR's Tamara Keith reports that after a September Rose Garden dinner with roughly 30 Republicans in tight races, Trump pledged to visit 35 competitive districts. By her analysis, he has appeared in fewer than a third of them, favoring strongly Republican states and districts. Carrie Dann of the Cook Political Report says the poll shows 94 percent approval among Republicans who identify with the MAGA movement, but only break-even standing among other Republicans, nearly half of whom disapprove. She suggests Republican strategists want those lukewarm voters to turn out without dampening enthusiasm among the base.

The discussion also covered Trump's widening quarrel with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his effort to blame Ukraine for higher gas prices.

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