Analysis: Russia’s aggression has united Americans against Vladimir Putin, but inflation still drives political attitudes and partisan divisions shape attitudes toward President Biden
How much does that matter to American voters and how much will it matter in the November midterm elections? Today, inflation and other domestic issues remain the main drivers of the upcoming elections. One change the war has brought is that it has frozen the political environment at home and placed some issues — gas prices specifically — into a more-than-purely-domestic context.
After the United States responded strongly to the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, President George W. Bush’s approval ratings slightly eclipsed his father’s levels. Republican candidates rode his anti-terrorism message to a successful midterm election the following year. Views about the war in Iraq had not shifted enough to prevent Bush from winning reelection in 2004, but by 2006, opposition to the war contributed heavily to the Democrats’ takeover of the House.This war is different.
Republicans have scurried away from the views expressed by former president Donald Trump, who had praised Putin as a “genius” as the war was taking shape. The party’s elected leaders quickly saw the foolishness of trying to accommodate that view. Putin has shown himself for what he is, and many of Trump’s acolytes have sought cover. While still not willing to criticize Trump, many have denounced Putin: House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy called him “a thug.
The president has gotten no noticeable bump in his approval ratings. That could change, of course. At best, his approval ratings have ticked up a point or two, but some strategists say the reason is that he has brought back to his side some Democrats who were unhappy with him because of what didn’t happen with his domestic agenda last year. He is solidifying his base but apparently not yet moving others. His overall approval rating remains net-negative by low double digits.
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