The American Spectator

A new CBS poll suggests that in several key areas, the American public is sympathetic to the types of arguments that Republicans are likely to make in this fall’s midterm elections.

To start with, by a wide margin, Americans see the economy as the most important issue — 38 percent of respondents identified the economy, and the next closest issue (the wars in Afganistan and Iraq) got 7 percent. And on that front, just 23 percent of Americans now say that the economic stimulus bill made the economy better, compared to 18 percent who say it made things worse and 56 percent who say it had no impact. So on the most important issue on voters minds right now, a Republican candidate can say, “My opponent voted for an $862 pork-laden stimulus bill that did nothing to improve the economy” — and 74 percent of the country is inclined to agree.

Asked whether government spending or tax cuts are better to spur economic growth, the Americans favor tax cuts by a 53 percent to 37 percent margin. Thus, a Republican candidate can say, “My Democratic opponent thinks that more government spending is the answer, but I think the way to create economic growth is to allow Americans to keep more of what they’ve earned” — and have 16 point advantage.

And on health care, just 13 percent of Americans think ObamaCare will help them, compared with 33 percent who say it will hurt and 48 percent who say it will have no effect. So if a Republican candidate says, “Instead of focusing on jobs, my opponent spent a year helping to ram through a trillion-dollar health care bill that won’t improve your health care and if anything, will make it worse” — and the public would overwhelmingly agree.

More evidence that unless the economy makes a dramatic turnaround in the next few months (not too likely) or Republicans shoot themselves in the feet (more likely), it’s going to be a really rough November for Democrats.