Ahead of the United States midterm elections, President Donald Trump’s job approval rating remains near a record low, according to an Ipsos poll. Some 32 percent of respondents approved of his handling of the presidency, one percentage point higher than two weeks earlier.
The Republican Party also remains unpopular among those polled. Asked whether they would vote for a generic Democratic or Republican candidate, 46 percent preferred the Democrat, compared with 38 percent who preferred the Republican.
Trump’s approval slides as Iran war lifts fuel prices
Polls suggest Trump’s approval has dropped steadily, especially since the United States and Israel launched their war on Iran on February 28. The conflict has pushed up petrol and diesel prices and has had secondary effects for American consumers who are worried about inflation and the economy.
Also read: Trump makes final campaign push before US midterm elections · Iran war cost to US tops $47 billion, Pentagon estimate shows
Trump is not on the ballot himself, but he has repeatedly told supporters to vote as if they were voting for him. He has warned that if Republicans lose control of Congress, Democrats may seek to impeach him for a third time.
Final campaign rally at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool
Trump embarked on a nearly monthlong campaign blitz before the November 3 midterms to shore up support for Republican candidates trying to keep control of the House of Representatives and the Senate. He wrapped up on Monday afternoon with a rally in Washington, DC, at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
The president has devoted significant attention to the site as part of his plan to renovate the capital. The pool project ran months late and cost more than 10 times its original estimate, and a special liner that Trump had touted began peeling away soon after it was installed.
Trump concedes midterm results may fall short
At the rally, Trump said of the pool: “It was a work of art that never worked, but now it will work.” He spent much of his speech on his wider renovation plans for the city, including a “Triumphal Arch” that is facing legal challenges.
Trump also seemed to acknowledge that his campaigning might not deliver the results he wants for his party, though he said this was the political norm for midterms. “For some reason, the sitting president doesn’t win the midterms,” he said. “But we gave this a very strong shot.”
