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Top Trump political adviser James Blair says he’s ‘cautiously optimistic’ about midterms
Developing
In Short: A top Trump political adviser expresses cautious optimism ahead of midterms, as Republicans face challenges defending their economic agenda.
James Blair, a top Trump political adviser, remains cautiously optimistic about the midterms, despite growing concerns over the party's economic record.
Several Republican lawmakers, including Reps. Tom Barrett and Zach Nunn, plan to skip a midterm GOP convention called by Trump, highlighting internal divisions.
Approaching the halfway point of Trump's second term, the midterms will largely focus on his economic policies, which have become a political liability for Republicans.
Despite low marks from voters on his handling of the ongoing conflict with Iran, Blair cites the prevention of Iran's nuclear program as a political success, emphasizing the need for more time to complete the task.
What's still developing
- “I’m not affected by the election,” Trump told reporters last week.
- But Rep. Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican and speaker of the House, said last week that the midterms would serve as a referendum on Trump’s presidency.
- Trump’s economic agenda has emerged as an increasingly awkward liability for Republicans heading into the November elections, leaving lawmakers to defend policies that have delivered political pain at home, even as the White House argues they will pay off in the long run.
- Yet James Blair, a top Trump political adviser, said he still believes Republicans can hang on to their majorities in Congress — although he knows it won’t be easy.
- He said he views this year’s midterms as being driven by both national and local concerns.
- “What they [Democrats] want a Republican to be measured against is, ‘Do you think everything is going perfectly?’” Blair said.
- “We’re still cleaning up that mess, and we need more time to finish the job,” Blair said.
- The party that controls the White House typically loses seats in Congress in the midterms.
Sources
- NBC Newslink