Washington: Democrats are showing strength in the final days ahead of the November 3 US midterm elections, with new polling indicating that the party is leading in several Republican-held Senate battleground states and maintaining a narrow advantage in another. The findings suggest Democrats could be within reach of regaining control of the upper chamber.
According to the latest New York Times/Siena University polls, Democratic candidates are ahead in Texas, Kansas, Maine, Ohio and Alaska, while the contest in Iowa remains virtually tied. Democrats are also leading in Michigan, where the party currently holds the Senate seat.
The findings come as Democrats seek to regain control of Congress amid voter dissatisfaction with President Donald Trump and growing concerns over the economy and the cost of living.
The New York Times/Siena surveys found Democrats holding substantial leads in Texas and Kansas, traditionally Republican states where the party has not won Senate elections since 1988 and 1932, respectively.
In Texas, Democrat James Talarico leads Republican Ken Paxton 50 per cent to 43 per cent. In Kansas, Democrat Chris Hamilton is ahead of Republican Senator Roger Marshall, 49 per cent to 44 per cent.
In Maine, Democrat Graham Platner leads Republican Senator Susan Collins 51 per cent to 45 per cent, while in Ohio, Democrat Sherrod Brown is ahead of Republican Jon Husted, 49 per cent to 44 per cent.
In Alaska, Democrat Mary Peltola holds a narrow lead over Republican Senator Dan Sullivan, 48 per cent to 46 per cent. Iowa remains closely contested, with Democrat Josh Turek polling at 48 per cent and Republican Ashley Hinson at 47 per cent. In Michigan, Democrat Abdul El-Sayed leads Republican Mike Rogers 53 per cent to 42 per cent.
The surveys covered 610 voters in Alaska, 705 in Iowa, 736 in Kansas, 714 in Maine, 1,011 in Michigan, 717 in Ohio and 1,215 in Texas.
To secure a Senate majority, Democrats need to retain all the seats they currently hold and gain at least four Republican-held seats. The task has been considered challenging because several of the contests are in traditionally Republican states.
The polls suggest that dissatisfaction with Trump and concerns over his handling of the economy are creating challenges for Republican candidates. Only 38 per cent of likely voters across the seven surveyed states approved of Trump's job performance, The New York Times reported.
Democrats also hold a nine-percentage-point advantage over Republicans on the cost of living across the battleground states, leading on the issue in all seven states surveyed.
However, the surveys identified potential challenges for Democrats. Some voters remain undecided, while those who made their voting decisions within the last month favoured Republicans by a nine-percentage-point margin.
The Senate contests form part of a wider congressional battle, with all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 Senate seats up for election on November 3. According to NBC News, Democrats need a net gain of four seats to take control of the Senate, with 51 seats required for a majority, including two independents who caucus with the party. In the House, they need a net gain of three seats to secure a majority of 218.
The NBC News polling average puts Trump's approval rating at 38 per cent, with 60 per cent disapproving of his performance. On congressional control, 52 per cent of Americans prefer a Democrat-controlled Congress, compared with 44 per cent who favour Republican control.
NBC News Decision Desk ratings identify five Senate races as toss-ups, while 11 House contests are considered toss-ups. The House battlegrounds are concentrated in Texas, California, Ohio, Florida, Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania, although competitive races are spread across the country.
Against this backdrop, Trump is making his closing pitch ahead of Election Day, but his final campaign appearance in Washington has drawn attention to one of his renovation projects rather than another trip to a key battleground state.
The president is scheduled to speak Monday afternoon at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, where repair work has been slow, expensive and beset by problems. Speaking to reporters after arriving in Iowa for a Sunday rally, Trump said the event would “show how beautiful it is”.
“We might hold it tomorrow or something,” he added, without giving details. The White House announced hours later that he would deliver a speech at the site on Monday afternoon.
The move marks a departure from Trump's month-long campaign schedule, during which he held more than 25 rallies, largely in conservative areas, seeking to energise his supporters and help Republicans retain control of Congress.
Trump wrote on his social media platform that his Sunday evening rally in Kansas, following his visit to Iowa, was “my last stop”.
During the rallies, Trump has also highlighted his second-term focus on reshaping the White House and the surrounding capital. His projects include adding gold features to the Oval Office, demolishing the East Wing to build a ballroom, converting the Rose Garden into a patio space modelled on his Mar-a-Lago estate and constructing a helipad on the South Lawn.
He also closed the Kennedy Center after unsuccessful attempts to add his name to the building, has planned a towering arch outside Washington and is pushing to renovate a century-old public golf course.
Trump has dismissed criticism from former President Barack Obama and other Democrats that he has devoted too much time to construction projects. He has said renovations relax him and that he completes them quickly without requiring extensive planning.
With voters preparing to decide control of Congress, the latest polls point to a challenging environment for Republicans. Whether Democratic leads in key Senate races translate into victories will depend on the final votes, particularly in states that have traditionally favoured Republicans.
(With agency inputs from ANI and AP via PTI)