Republican Candidates Distance Themselves From Donald Trump Before Midterms
Two-thirds of Republican candidates in competitive races are distancing themselves from President Donald Trump following a drop in his approval ratings.
A Reuters review reveals that two-thirds of Republican candidates in competitive U.S. House and Senate races are distancing themselves from Donald Trump ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. Candidates in 41 of 62 competitive races have either broken with the president on specific policies or minimized their ties to him to attract independent voters.
Points of divergence include beef-import policies, data center development, the conflict in Iran, and legal protections for Haitian immigrants. Some candidates have removed the president's image and endorsements from their campaign websites. Others maintain a balancing act, such as Senator Pete Ricketts, who criticized Trump's beef-import plan while continuing to appear at his rallies.
This trend follows a Reuters/Ipsos poll showing Trump's approval rating at a career-low 32%, with registered voters favoring Democrats 44% to 37%. White House spokesman Davis Ingle defended the president as the party's unequivocal leader, while Representative Mike Lawler noted that he and the president do not always agree.
