Midterms On The Horizon, Republicans Have Slight Lead

            As the November election creeps closer, new polling data shows that the Republicans are holding the upper hand. An article published in the New York Times by Nate Cohn on October 5^th states that while the battle for the senate remains close, Republicans are quickly gaining momentum. It has been almost three years since President Obama has been reelected and his approval ratings, which are around 40%, have seen better days. After the flawed roll out of his legacy healthcare program, republican watchdogs have been hounding the president. Through claims of an unorganized administration and a weak foreign policy, the GOP has been winning the support of the public and is heading towards a majority victory in the upcoming election.

            Unfortunately, democrats seeking office this year have been forced to attempt to distance themselves from President Obama. They are taking every step they can to disassociate themselves from the many issues the American people have with this administration. The main question that every newsman in America is asking is will this act of distancing be enough to give the Democrats even a slight chance of victory. It is almost certain that the Republicans will keep the house, but the senate remains in question. Key supporters of the president have been speaking out about his recent decision to form a military coalition to combat ISIS. Many of them suggest that America needs to play a smaller role, while so-called “hawks” like Hillary Clinton believe that we should be doing much more. This clear crack in the party line presents a tough situation for the November election. Democrats seeking office must do everything in their power to gain the support of their constituents in the crucial month to come.

            Republicans, on the other hand, are beginning to look more favorable to voters. Despite the fact that a solid majority of Americans oppose any troops on the ground in the Middle East, many do support doing more to eliminate the Islamic State. The American people are growing wearier of the President and his party with every passing day. What have been seen by many as failures of his policies and a lack of progress for the country is coming back to bite the Democrats this election. Unfortunately for the citizens of our mighty nation, a republican majority in both houses will only halt further progress by continuing the gridlock in congress. Without any support in congress the president will not be able to pass any key legislation and will likely have to kiss any legacy policies he had in mind goodbye.

            A simple look back into the history of our country shows that a change in party power is imminent this election cycle. The American people are quick to be frustrated with the party of the president in power. They are sold with partisan promises during the campaign and when they don’t see the drastic changes they desire, they turn. This is a systematic process that happens virtually every election. If the average voter knew how truly limited the power of the president is, especially during a gridlocked congress, they might be inclined to re-think their decision this election. For now, it seems it would be safe to presume that the Republicans will likely take both the house and the senate this November.

Cohn, Nate. "Republicans Maintain Edge in Senate Races, Poll Finds." The New York Times. The New York Times, 5 Oct. 2014. Web. 8 Oct. 2014. <http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/06/upshot/republicans-maintain-edge-in-senate-races-poll-finds.html?ref=politics&_r=5&abt=0002&abg=0>.