The Trump slump appears to be easing, raising hopes in the White House that the president and Republicans could be poised for springtime political pop.
Indications since Thanksgiving that President Donald Trump and the GOP are coming off their polling lows were confirmed in a new Cygnal survey shared with Washington Secrets on Monday.
“Right direction moved +5 net since last month. A modest uptick in national optimism softens the ‘doom loop’ narrative and shows the beginnings of GOP turnaround,” said the analysis of Cygnal’s latest survey conducted Dec. 5 through Dec. 7 among 1,500 likely voters.
While concerns remain about overpriced housing and sustained high retail prices, voters appear to be getting a better “vibe” as Trump tackles the affordability issue and signals support for a compromise on Obamacare subsidies.
“Based on this month’s data, Trump’s more pragmatic approach wins the day when he talks about providing some wiggle room on extensions as a way to get something meaningful done,” said Cygnal founder and pollster Brent Buchanan.
“There’s a satisfying feeling about connecting something people want, less money spent on healthcare, and increasing certainty about costs, meaning that healthcare spending is lessened as an overall concern. Trump has an advantage here,” he added.
Working for Trump in the Cygnal survey:
- The Venezuelan boat bombings. The poll found that voters support Trump’s military action against the suspected drug cartel shipments by a 19-point margin, 57% to 38%.
- Voters are laser-focused on high costs, giving the president a chance to talk about his affordability plans. “The president is rounding out the year with a recovered image, meaning it’s a perfect time to get aggressive on the affordability front,” said Buchanan.
- Since Thanksgiving, voters are less likely to see the nation heading in the wrong direction.
- Americans want their Affordable Care Act subsidies, so Trump’s softening on the GOP’s refusal to extend them is helpful.
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Working against Trump and the GOP:
- High housing prices. Cygnal found that younger voters and minorities are most concerned.
- Non-traditional news sources. Outlets such as YouTube are the source for many younger voters. “This audience is hearing more anti-Trump content; Republicans and Trump should get back to being front and center on these channels to counter a narrative drift,” said the poll analysis.