OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi isn’t listening to new polling data indicating her Democratic Party is likely in for a drubbing during next month’s midterm elections.
During an interview with MSNBC on Tuesday, Pelosi waved off polling data suggesting that Democrats are losing ground with independent women voters, according to the Daily Caller.
The outlet cited a just-released survey by The New York Times and Siena College found that 49 percent of likely voters are planning to vote for a Republican candidate versus 45 percent who say they will back Democrats. Notably, the survey found that female independents now favor the GOP by 18 points after favoring Democrats by 14 points just last month. In addition, the poll found that voters are far more concerned about the state of the economy and inflation than they are about the issue of abortion, the latter of which Democrats have attempted to highlight during the midterms following the U.S. Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade over the summer.
MSNBC host Andrea Mitchell, in questioning Pelosi, suggested that polling for Democrats was down in spite of an “extraordinary” legislative session.
“Despite all the legislative accomplishments, I want to cite them, I want to say it’s been an extraordinary session, you and the president have done so much in terms of domestic concerns, the economy. Why is this message, why do you think the president hasn’t gotten this message through to the voters?” MSNBC host Andrea Mitchell asked.
“Well, first of all, let me say that I think that much of what you’ve said I don’t agree with, that is to say ‘The New York Times’ poll, I think this is an outlier poll, you just cite one poll, but all the other polls,” the California Democrat began as the two then began talking over each other.
“It’s also – the ‘RealClearPolitics’ average is showing similar issues,” Mitchell added.
“No, but these, but that was one that brought down the average, and it was an outlier. It wasn’t even that big a sample. So I – I dismissed that. I have been – since Congress adjourned, I’ve been in an average of five states a week. And I can tell you that women’s concerns about their freedom are very, very much still very significant in terms of how they will vote,” Pelosi claimed, adding that abortion is still a major issue for women despite polling for months suggesting that inflation and the economy, by far, are the top issues for most Americans.
The Daily Caller added:
Democratic super PACs and campaigns have dropped nearly $18 million on abortion-related ads despite polls showing that economy and inflation issues rank higher amongst voter concerns. A July Monmouth University poll found abortion was the most important issue for just 5% of voters while 63% said inflation was their top issue.
Last month, top Republicans responded to Pelosi’s criticism of their “Commitment to America” plan, which they unveiled ahead of what were expected to be some highly competitive midterm elections.
Their remarks came after Pelosi’s office put out a statement using what has become a standard Democratic Party attack line regarding the “MAGA” agenda of former President Donald Trump.
“Today’s rollout is the latest evidence of House Republicans’ whole-hearted commitment to MAGA: going all-in on an extremist agenda designed to greatly diminish Americans’ health, freedom and security,” she said, according to Fox News.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who is first in line to replace Pelosi if Republicans regain control of the chamber, accused the Speaker of being too afraid to run on her party’s dismal record since taking over Congress and the White House.
“Because the Democrats have caused inflation, crime in our streets by defunding the police, runaway spending causing inflation,” McCarthy told Fox News. “Going after American energy and making the price of gas, causing inflation. This is a plan to fix the problems the Democrats have created, and I think the American public should have an election based upon ideas.”
“I think why she does that is she can’t run on the policies and the damage they’ve caused to America,” the GOP leader continued. “And they have no plan to fix it.”
Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) told the outlet that Pelosi’s comment “shows the country every day how out of touch she is with America.”
