Surge in GOP voter enthusiasm, ‘nearly matching’ Democrats

Republicans appear to be rallying to embattled President Trump and his call for a “red wave” of voters at the polls this fall, according to a new national survey that finds GOP “enthusiasm” for the midterm elections surging.

While the NBC/Wall Street Journal poll found a significant, potentially overwhelming, 12-point lead for Democrats in the congressional preference, both outlets noted that Republican voters are stirring. Trump has been campaigning for GOP candidates and plans to step up his appearances in the fall.

The Journal said, “The poll, while outlining challenges for the GOP, included some good news for Republicans. The party is closing an enthusiasm gap, with 61 percent of Republican voters now expressing high interest in the election, nearly matching the 65 percent of Democrats. In polls taken over the first eight months of the year, Democrats had held an aggregate 12-point advantage in the share of supporters showing high interest in the election.”And NBC said, “Still, the same poll shows that Republican enthusiasm about the upcoming election has increased, drawing nearly even with Democrats.”

The network also highlighted that warning to Democrats in a Monday report on the Today show, and added on Twitter that older voters who historically lean Republican are the most excited about the upcoming election.