While Democrats may see momentum ahead of the November 2018 midterms, voter registration may have them pull back their excitement just a little bit.
The latest ABC News/Washington Post poll shows that the number of Democrats and Democrat-leaning independents registered to votes has fallen to 75% from 84% in November.
ABC News reported:
Self-reported registration is one indicator as it is less a measure of actual registration than of political engagement. The share of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents who report being registered to vote has slipped from 84 percent in November to 79 percent in January and 75 percent now. That contrasts with 87 percent among Republicans and Republican-leaning independents, up slightly from 82 percent three months ago.Further, among Republican likely voters, 95 percent say they would vote for their party’s candidate, which is up from 89 percent in January and now matches the level among Democrats, 95 percent.
Democrats once had a 10 point lead “among all adults,” but that has fallen “to 4 points among registered voters and 5 points among those who say they’re both registered and certain to vote.” ABC News wrote that neither of those stats hold any significance, but I disagree, especially since a lot of races have become tight and the GOP holds such a slim margin in the Senate.
via ABC News
From The Washington Post:
With the Republicans’ House majority at risk, 47 percent of registered voters say they prefer the Democratic candidate in their district, while 43 percent favor the Republican. That four-point margin compares with a 12-point advantage Democrats held in January. Among a broader group of voting-age adults, the Democrats’ margin is 10 points, 50 percent to 40 percent.Republicans owe part of their improved standing to Trump’s thawing job ratings. The Post-ABC poll finds that 40 percent approve of the president, up slightly from 36 percent in January to his highest level of support since last April. Still, Trump continues to face majority disapproval at 56 percent, higher than any president at this stage since the dawn of modern polling, an indication that he remains a significant liability for Republicans on November’s ballot.
Via Washington Post
Gun policy has shown a strong presence with the poll finding that “[M]ore than 4 in 10 registered voters say it is extremely important that candidates share their views on gun issues.” Despite this, the poll found “that neither party holds an advantage among the 42 percent of voters who say it’s ‘extremely important’ that a congressional candidate share their view on the issue.”
Fewer voters find it important “that candidates share their views on Trump or House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).” Those who do say it’s “extremely important” that the candidate have their views on Trump “favor the Democrats over Republicans by 11 points, 54 percent to 43 percent.”
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