In light of a steady barrage of attacks on President Donald Trump from the media, coupled with the president’s own missteps, to include his bungling of an otherwise accurate message on Charlottesville, establishment Republicans are worried about potential damage to the GOP brand.
But, much like the 2016 election, traditional expectations are flipped on their head when it comes to Trump.
A new analysis from Cook Political Report out Thursday shows a ratings change in five Senate races.
…all favoring the Republican Party!
NEW: ratings changes in five Senate races! Full chart: https://t.co/lP4qWGBFu9 pic.twitter.com/0UYH5MGO3I
— CookPoliticalReport (@CookPolitical) August 17, 2017
The states involved are Indiana, Missouri, Nevada, North Dakota and West Virginia.
Four of the states are now seen as a “Toss Up, according to the independent online newspaper. North Dakota was downgraded from “Likely D” to “Leans D.”
Sign of the times: Cook Political Report changes Senate ratings in 5 races — 4 in the GOP's direction https://t.co/Ck2A0chvyF
— Josh Kraushaar (@HotlineJosh) August 17, 2017
Based on the reaction on social media, it appears the political class, to include the media, have underestimated the ability of voters to sort through the cacophony of noise — see Fake News — to arrive at their own conclusions.
Here’s a sampling of responses from Twitter:
Bashing the POTUS and tearing down monuments while rooting on violent Antifa & BLM isn't working? Imagine my shock! ???
— Perry (@BAMAPERRY) August 17, 2017
https://twitter.com/joey_cabal/status/898160267514847232
The MSM simply cannot lie anymore than they are now, cannot scream louder, cannot foment more violence.
And that's there only playbook.
— Kaulu001 (@cks94066) August 17, 2017
#winning???
— Bella Dottore ?♀️ (@GeenaJagger) August 17, 2017
Thank the media totally making fools of themselves in shilling for the Dems and their causes. Anyone with half a brain can see thru it.
— David Mueller (@davidwmueller) August 17, 2017
https://twitter.com/lrwhocares/status/898173189880246272
https://twitter.com/bruce_lambert/status/898161173949972481
Those are seats in states that Trump won by 20 – 40%. Why is it surprising they'd be 'toss up'?
— Dave from TO (@DavefromTO) August 17, 2017
It's almost as if the opinions of the #Media & the #Democrats AREN'T shared by the General Public….https://t.co/WkT5Mafg94
— justturnright (@justturnright) August 17, 2017