“I think it’s selling itself,” President Trump said Friday, with customary bravado, as he signed into law the $1.5 trillion, Republican-passed tax cut. Every Republican running in a competitive race in 2018 is hoping he’s correct, but they face an uphill climb to turn the president’s words into reality.
There is a sizable disconnect in public opinion shaping the political environment. Economic and consumer confidence are strong, but that has yet to give lift to the president or the GOP. Trump’s approval ratings hover at or just below 40 percent at a time of low unemployment, a booming stock market and steady economic growth.
When such a pattern of low presidential approval at a time of low unemployment has appeared in the past half-century, the party in power suffered major setbacks in the midterm elections. Republicans hope the tax measure provides the elixir to produce a change in fortune, but there are several reasons to be skeptical. CONT.
Dan Balz, Washington Post
Recent polls: Taxes