Pollster: GOP incumbents will try to de-emphasize Trump in midterms

Pollster Lee Miringoff said Wednesday that Republican incumbents will try to keep the midterm elections as localized as possible in an effort to combat Democratic candidates who are tying their GOP opponents to President Trump.

“I think the Democrats are certainly going to like to make that a national referendum, and I suspect a lot of Republican incumbents are going to try to keep it localized if possible,” Miringoff, director of the Marist Institute for Public Opinion, told Hill.TV’s Joe Concha on “What America’s Thinking.”

He said it’s “problematic” for Republicans “when you have someone like Donald Trump in the White House.”

Miringoff’s comments come as some Democratic lawmakers and candidates increase their calls to impeach Trump.

However, other Democrats have cautioned against taking the impeachment approach, urging candidates to instead focus on constituent needs at the district level.

“A good message is like a radio station. You know, if you’re driving on the interstate, sometimes you’re going to get some great country western music, sometimes you’re going to get NPR,” former Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.) told Hill.TV’s “Rising” on Wednesday.

“The message resonates in specific markets, and so Democrats ought to message to the market, and they don’t need this national one-size fits all template, that’s not going to work,” said Israel, who was also chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

— Julia Manchester


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