GOP Downplays Election Losses, Citesโข Democratic Advantages & Trump’s Strength
WASHINGTON (AP) โข- Following recentโข election setbacks, the โRepublican National Committee (RNC) is actively framing โthe โresultsโฃ as โคa consequence of inherent Democratic advantages in key โstates, while simultaneously โasserting former President Donaldโฃ Trump’s continued political โขstrength.โฃ The messaging, outlinedโฃ in talking points obtained by The โAssociated Press, dismisses the lossesโ in Georgia and โฃPennsylvania and claims Trump’s approval โratings surpass those of formerโฃ Presidents Barack obama and George W. bush at comparable points in their second terms.
However, AP polling analysisโ contradicts the RNC’s โclaims. Trump’s approval rating currently stands at 36% in a November poll โby the AP-NORC Center โfor Public โAffairs research, โขa slight increaseโข from his first term.โ Gallup polling data shows bothโข obama and Bush held approval ratings in โthe low 40s at similar stages of their second presidencies, comparable to Trump’s 39% in Gallup’s October poll. Both Obama and Bushโข experienced notable losses in the midterm elections following those approval ratings.
The RNCโข talking points explicitly state the recent elections “were not a referendum on Presidentโฃ Trump, Republicans in Congress, or the MAGA Agenda,” and โemphasize theโ need for strong voter turnout from “Make America Great Again” โคsupporters to secureโ victories โฃin โ2026.
Simultaneously occurring, Representative โฃElise โStefanik (R-NY) underscored party unity behind a potential โfuture challenge to New York Governor kathy Hochul, stating, “sense is ourโ party is fully united behind firing Kathyโฃ Hochul.” Stefanik, when questioned โฃabout supportโ for Trump, emphasized her focus on “delivering for New Yorkers and putting New Yorkersโข first.”โ She declined to comment on a hypothetical deployment of the National Guard โคto new York City at โฃTrump’s request, suggesting such a measure “wouldn’t need โto happen if there wasโค a โRepublican governor.”
The RNC’sโ messaging reflects a broader effort toโฃ solidify support for โTrump and his policiesโ despite โคrecent electoral outcomes, and highlights the challenges facingโค Republicanโ candidates navigating a โคcomplex political landscape.