Is the Economy Lifting Republican Boats?

“A rising tide lifts all boats” or so said President John F. Kennedy in 1963.  Kennedy was an advocate for policies designed to increase economic expansion, including tax cuts, and believed a strong economy would benefit all Americans.

President Trump campaigned for and signed tax rate reductions.  The economic growth rate under Trump is much higher than under Obama.  Unemployment rates are historically low and have set records for Latino and Black employment.

Democrats running for office are worried about that.  A good economy generally benefits the party in the White House – in this case Republicans. Of course, the first midterm of a new President generally results in losses for the party in the White House.

So, who will do better?  Republicans or Democrats in the Fall?

There is still a long way to go.  Foreign policy successes like North Korea help the Republicans as well. Laying in the weeds, however, is the Mueller investigation and the Investigator General’s report on FBI and DOJ abuses.

Time will tell.  For now, however, Democrats are recognizing that the economy is helping Republicans as these headlines demonstrate:

Bernie Sanders son: Trump doing ‘incredible job’ boosting voter self-esteem

Willie Brown: Trump is more popular than Dems want to admit

According to Brown:

“Like it or not, a significant number of Americans are actually happy these days. They are making money. They feel safe, and they agree with with the president’s protectionist trade policies, his call for more American jobs, even his immigration stance.

The jobs growth reports, the North Korea summit and the steady economy are beating out the Stormy Daniels scandal and the Robert Mueller investigation in Middle America, hands down.

Rather than stoking the base by attacking Trump, Democrats need to come up with a platform that addresses the average voters’ hopes and concerns. Not just the needs of underdogs or whatever cause happens to be the media flavor of the week.

Democrats need to look like the adults, not like another pack of screaming kids on the playground.”

In other words, the economy is helping the Republicans and lifting their political fortunes and the Democrats are worried about it.