According to Newsweek, with the US midterm elections approaching, Trump's approval ratings have plummeted due to the Iran conflict and rising domestic cost of living. Many Republican candidates vying for swing districts are strategically distancing themselves from Trump.
Comparing archived versions of online campaigns reveals that Republican candidates running for Congress in multiple states have removed or minimized photos of Trump on their campaign websites, reduced the amount of his endorsement text, and rarely include his image or name in their campaign ads. Some candidates have replaced their "endorsed by Trump" slogans with statements identifying themselves as ordinary Republican candidates, shifting their campaign focus to economic and livelihood issues rather than linking their campaigns to Trump's achievements.
Data shows that ads mentioning Trump account for a very small percentage of the Republican Party's massive total campaign advertising expenditure. In contrast, Democrats are heavily advertising, using Trump as a target.
Ironically, Trump himself is still holding rallies and urging voters to "pretend my name is on the ballot," hoping to mobilize the Republican base.
This is a typical example of partisan polarization in midterm elections. The Republican Party cannot abandon Trump's base, but it fears his low approval ratings will negatively impact its swing seats. If the Republican Party loses the midterm elections, further internal debate and reflection on Trump's policies will likely erupt within the party.
