Trump and Republicans settle on fear — and falsehoods — as a midterm strategy
The GOP certainly can't run on healthcare which they tried their best to destroy, nor on the tax cuts for the wealthy which is ballooning the deficit, nor turning the EPA into a deregulation machine for polluting corporations, nor Trumps misogynist personality or his love for Putin. They haven't accomplished much at all for the vast majority of Americans.
So the GOP peddles fear, bigotry, xenophobia, religious gobbledygook, and as many outright lies as they can cram into the final two weeks of electioneering.
They've borrowed their divisive midterm strategy from the omnipresent Russian meddlers.
What Republican candidates (who are far more than Trump) actually run on varies, but more importantly remember that what they run on may have little to do the reasons their losses may be mitigated.
First, the GOP is ahead by 15 points in polls on the handling of the economy.
Second, recent news has touched on sore spots for the Republican voter base and seemingly energized their turnout. The Kavanaugh circus started the record GOP turnout backlash, and the caravan, while itself not a serious threat, is emblematic of the frustration Trump voters have had for many years over their biggest hot button issue - still blocked by Democrats. And Mueller's investigation, seemingly unable to release results that might exonerate Trump, looks like a dud.
Third, there is plenty of stuff for Trump to crow about, including NAFTA renegotiation, North Korean engagement, EPA deregulation, tax cuts, getting rid of the mandate, etc. Compared to liberal democrats feckless whining and excuse making on these issues when they were in power, it can't help be noticed that Trump provided spine where his opponents did not.
Last, not only can't the GOP run on healthcare, nor apparently can the Democrats. Bottom line, at least half the voters don't give a hoot about "turning the EPA into a deregulation machine for polluting corporations" , nor Trumps misogynist personality or his love for Putin.
In other words, the Democrats "pedd(ling of) Trump fear, xenophilia, anti-religious gobbledygook, and as many outright lies as they can cram into the final two weeks of electioneering" is not working as well as expected.
