ANALYSIS — Just a few months ago, Republican strategists expressed some optimism about their party’s midterm fortunes. Gas prices were falling, the stock market was surging and tax refunds were imminent.
But President Donald Trump’s war with Iran has at least stalled that momentum, and he’s at risk of being an anvil around the necks of GOP candidates in the fall midterms.
Historical midterm trends are working against the party that holds the House majority, particularly with an unpopular president in the White House. While Republicans had faith in the direction of the economy and felt they had time to turn things around before November, neither of those factors are working in their favor anymore.
