WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump’s approval rating has edged up to 32 per cent from last week’s record low, while Democrats hold a substantial lead over Republicans ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll completed on Monday.
The five-day nationwide poll found that 47 per cent of registered voters favoured Democrats for Congress, compared with 36 per cent who supported Republicans. Around 11 per cent remained undecided about their choice if the election were held that day.
The 11-percentage-point Democratic lead was one point narrower than in a Reuters/Ipsos poll that concluded on October 19. When undecided voters were asked which party they were leaning towards, the Democratic lead narrowed to nine points, with 50 per cent favouring Democrats and 41 per cent backing Republicans.
US President Donald Trump’s public approval rating inched higher to 32%, up a percentage point from last week’s record low, ahead of the November 3 midterm elections that will decide which party controls Congress, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll completed on Monday. https://t.co/nb9xpyEMzo
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The elections will determine control of the House of Representatives and the Senate, where Republicans currently hold majorities. Losing either chamber could complicate Trump’s legislative agenda during the final two years of his second presidential term.
Political analysts generally see Democrats as having a strong chance of regaining control of the House, while their prospects of winning the Senate remain more challenging. Republicans retain structural advantages in several state-level Senate contests.
Key election issue
Economic concerns appear to be playing a significant role in shaping voter sentiment. The poll found that 73 per cent of respondents believed the cost of living was heading in the wrong direction.
The findings come after Trump ordered military strikes on Iran in February, which sent petrol prices higher, according to Reuters. Before the conflict, Reuters/Ipsos polling had shown voters favouring Republicans over Democrats on economic management.
READ ALSO: Trump Approval Rating Hits Record Low as Democrats Lead by 12 Points Ahead of Midterms
In the latest survey, 37 per cent of voters said Democrats had a better approach to the economy, compared with 33 per cent who favoured Republicans.
Democratic voters also appeared more enthusiastic about the upcoming elections. Some 46 per cent of Democrats said they were very enthusiastic about voting, against 30 per cent of Republicans. Among voters considered most likely to cast ballots, Democrats led Republicans by nine percentage points, at 53 per cent to 44 per cent.
The online poll surveyed 1,679 US adults, including 1,280 registered voters. Its margin of error was two percentage points for all adults and three percentage points for registered voters.
