Posted on 07/03/2014 8:42:24 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Democrats have an enthusiasm problem, and they know it.
A June poll from the Democratic firm Democracy Corps revealed that, among those voters who make up the Obama coalition young people, Latinos, African-Americans, and single women only 68 percent describe themselves as likely to vote in 2014. 85 percent of other voters who are expected to favor Republican candidates say they are likely to cast a ballot in November.
The Washington Posts Aaron Blake observed that this is not the only troubling sign for Democrats ahead of the midterms. An April AP-GfK poll showed, among those who are strongly interested in politics i.e. most apt to vote people favored a GOP-controlled Congress 51 percent to 37 percent, he noted.
For months, Democrats have been scrambling for an issue that might energize their base ahead of Novembers midterm elections. From climate change, to campaign finance, to the Koch brothers, to immigration, to the War on Women; Democrats have employed a scattershot strategy aimed at sparking some enthusiasm among Obama voters for their Democratic representatives. Thus far, this strategy has fallen flat.
Is this because Democratic voters are simply incapable of voting in midterm elections? The president suggested this was the case in March when he said that his party usually gets clobbered in midterms. That certainly was not the case in 2006 when Democrats recaptured control of the House and the Senate. Nor was it the case in 1998 when, in spite of the historically strong headwinds facing a Democrats in Bill Clintons sixth year in office, his party gained five seats in the House.
So, beyond historical forces working against Democrats in 2014, what could be explaining the enthusiasm deficit threatening the partys control of the Senate? The Hills A.B. Stoddard submitted an interesting theory on Wednesday when she suggested that President Barack Obamas consistent threats to address issues he says are of paramount importance without Congress communicates to his voters that maintaining control of the Senate is of little consequence.
At the six minute mark in the clip below, Stoddard was asked if she believes Obamas apparent election year strategy of attacking unpopular Republicans in an even more unpopular Congress was a smart tactic. She said that, while it is true that Obamas personal brand is stronger than that of congressional Republicans, a perpetual campaign is not going to be remembered fondly by historians.
To be picking on Congress and saying I can do it without you, A, tells his base not to get out this fall, she said. It tells Democratic voters, You dont need your member of Congress, because Im just going to do things without them anyway.
It really seems like he doesnt plan to do anything substantive or significant until throughout the entire remainder of his presidency, Stoddard added. And thats really worrisome.
(VIDEO-AT-LINK)
On an anecdotal note, virtually everyone who discusses politics for a living has encountered an Obama supporter who greets the presidents failing job approval numbers with a yawn. So much for that third term, theyll say mockingly. That would seem to support Stoddards point. Even those Obama voters who are engaged in politics believe their job is done, most likely because Obama believes the same.
The president is giving Americans a sense that, as he gives up on Congress, hes kind of giving up on his job, Stoddard said earlier in this segment.
They know hes bolting from the building to go to Starbucks and Chipotle. Hes getting bored in the cocoon. Hes planning his post-presidency. There have been reports about how he wants to perhaps move to New York. Hes having lots of dinner parties where he doesnt talk about policy or politics, but the NBA playoffs anything but his job.
Can Obama energize Democrats ahead of the midterms if he is not enthusiastic about the final two years of his presidency? Probably not. And all the identity politics in the world is no substitute for a positive agenda from the White House.
One can only hope, but unfortunately the Repukes are sending the same message to conservatives
No telling. Hopefully it’ll be like 2010, only more so.
Obama really doesn’t care how much the Republicans win and the Dems. lose in Nov.
Obama is going to become more obstinate and do as much damage as he can. That’s his agenda.
I sure hope they do!
Yep. Only the GOPe is capable of screwing up such an opportunity.
I dislike the GOPe just about as much as I do demos.
“No telling. Hopefully itll be like 2010, only more so.”
well look. there’s three possibilities, like 2010, like 2012, or even up. since current conditions point to being like 2010, and maybe even worse, people need some really good arguments as to why it wont be a gop landslide.
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No, why would he? Who is going to make him?
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