WASHINGTON, Broadcasting news corporation : November’s midterms will revolve around security — financial, on the border and in cities — according to the lawmaker leading efforts to get Republicans elected to Congress.
In an interview on “Fox News Sunday,” Rep. Tom Emmer, head of the National Republican Congressional Committee, pushed back on his Democrat counterpart’s claim the party would hold its House majority. “This election can be summed up with one word: security. It’s about Americans’ economic security. It’s about Americans’ physical security,” Emmer said. “It’s about groceries and gas,” he added. “It’s about being safe and secure in our homes and communities. Democrats have caused this problem, and they’re going to pay for it at the ballot box​.” The Minnesota Republican said the southern border is being overrun by cartels trafficking in people and drugs, including the powerful ​synthetic opioid fentanyl that has Americans “wondering if their child is going to be the one that dies next.” Emmer said “failed” Democrat policies and the Biden administration ​have left American families struggling to buy groceries and fill up their vehicles. “And on the security side, the physical security, Democrats’ pro-criminal policies have literally made our cities war zones,” Emmer charged.
“If you look at, for instance, the congressman’s own state, New York City, they are experiencing a crime epidemic because of cashless bail, which he supports​,” he said, referring to Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney of New York. “​You look at my city of Minneapolis. Minneapolis has already had 6,000 assaults reported since the beginning of the year​,” he said. Maloney, who appeared ahead of Emmer on Fox, said he was confident Democrats will retain their House majority ​”​because we have a plan to fix the problems our country is facing.” “The other side has only a ploy to win back power for themselves. And ripping away our constitutional freedom, our reproductive freedom, has awakened millions of voters, and we see that in the astonishing comeback in special elections in New York and elsewhere,” Maloney said, referring to Democrat Pat Ryan’s win last month in the state’s 19th District and the overturning of Roe v. Wade in June. “We’re on a roll and we’re going to win this election,” he continued. Maloney credited President Biden’s actions for bringing down the cost of gas and helping to ease the pain of inflation, and said Democratic candidates in the midterms are all in on the White House’s agenda, pointing out Biden notched a number of legislative wins in recent months. “We’re going to stand with the president and say, we passed in a bipartisan way, better roads, better bridges, better health care for veterans that MAGA Republicans tried to obstruct, by the way, that we’re going to negotiate with prescription drug companies, lowering those costs and capping seniors out of pocket costs,” Maloney said. “We’ve passed common sense gun legislation also in a bipartisan fashion — better background checks, mental health and school safety resources,” he continued, adding “the President is on the way back and so are House Democrats.” A Wall Street Journal poll released last week shows that while high levels of discontent still exist over where the country is heading, Democrats are making gains with voters. The poll found 47% of registered voters would support a Democratic congressional candidate if the election were held today, compared with 44% who’d back a Republican. In March, the poll showed Republicans were ahead of Democrats 46% to 41%. It also found Democratic gains were being propelled by increased support among independents, women, and younger voters. Independents now prefer a Democratic candidate for Congress over a Republican by 38% to 35%, wiping out a 12-point edge the GOP notched in March. “Male independents did not really change,” GOP pollster Tony Fabrizio told the Journal. “Female independents, because of the abortion issue, changed their opinions and their votes.’’​ NEWS COLLECTED FROM NEW YORK POST.