As the Biden Administration is overwhelmed by crisis after crisis and Congressional Democrats continue failing in their attempts to enact their legislative agenda, the opposition party is making gains. Gallup polling conducted between September 1-17 shows Americans are increasingly more likely to trust Republicans on questions of the nation’s safety and prosperity.
When asked which political party will do a better job of protecting the nation from international terrorism and military threats, Republicans recorded their all-time second highest rating of 54% in the question that’s been asked annually since 2002. The only higher mark for the GOP was 55% in the 2014 Gallup poll taken in the middle of the election in which Senate Republicans reclaimed the majority after eight years out of power. This September, Democrats stood at 39%, while 8% saw no difference or had no opinion. The GOP’s high numbers are likely the result of the weakness and incompetence projected by the Biden Administration’s bungled withdrawal from Afghanistan in August.
On the topic of which party will do a better job of keeping the nation prosperous, Republicans earned their highest marks since the first year of President George H.W. Bush’s Administration, with 50% of those surveyed favoring the GOP. Similarly, Democrats recorded their lowest level of confidence on this issue since 1991, with only 41% of the public expressing confidence in the Democratic Party on this issue. Higher prices at the grocery store and gas pump, shaky markets, anemic job creation and slowing growth likely contribute to the Democratic decline that party fell 7% from its 2020 level of 48%.
The favorable numbers suggest Republicans are winning the conversations with voters on national security and economic prosperity. With brand-new congressional maps and the Senate majority up for grabs in 2022, the GOP has an opportunity to capitalize on these numbers. To do so, Republican candidates will need to spell out how they’ll keep America safe and make her more prosperous. If they do so effectively, it’s likely to result in more election victories as the Gallup results show voters are disposed to believe Republicans on these critical issues.
