Democrats struggle with midterm credibility despite anti-Trump backlash

President Donald Trump’s sagging approval ratings give Democrats an opening in the midterm elections, but strategists warn it will not be enough. Winning competitive races, they say, hinges on persuading voters that Democrats can be trusted on the economy and everyday costs.

Trump’s approval rating sits at 37%, according to the Pew Research Center, down from 40% in the fall. By more than 2-to-1, voters say the administration’s actions have been worse than expected rather than better. Support for Trump’s policies has also softened, with only 27% of Americans saying they back all or most of his agenda, a drop driven entirely by declining enthusiasm among Republicans.

Yet Democrats are confronting their own credibility problem.

A recent Quinnipiac University poll found just 18% of voters approve