Running vs. Trump: Democrats make political hay out of unpopular president

The campaigns of Democratic candidates for governor in several 2018 races might prove to be a harbinger of things to come as they reach out to attack President Donald Trump.

The strategy seems to be the way Democrats hope to take back some of  the power they have lost in recent years. Even the new national Democratic Party chairman, Tom Perez, has made disparaging comments about Trump, saying he does not care about the average American.

It's an aggressive campaigning style not unlike how Trump himself campaigned in 2016 and is aimed at appealing to Democratic primary voters and revving up the party's base. Attacking the unpopular Trump has become an essential element in many Democratic campaigns. And given his ups and downs during his first few months in office, it seems like a smart strategy.

But time will tell if the strategy works. If Trump remains unpopular it could turn the tide in some races. If he is able to turn things in Washington around and has more successes down the road it could backfire on the Democrats.

Published in Editorials on April 26, 2017 9:39 AM