Midterms show Trump 'liability' for GOP - Experts
Experts see that former US President Donald Trump frightens many voters - especially women of all stripes and various minorities - and has become a liability for the GOP.
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Former US President Donald Trump speaks to the media during an election night event at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, on Nov. 8. (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
This week's midterm elections' results show that former US President Donald Trump alarms large numbers of women and minority voters while his predecessor's moderate message to find a common ground resonated, analysts told Sputnik.
An anticipated strong wave of support for the Republicans never materialized on Tuesday. NBC projects the Republicans will have 220 seats and the Democrats will take over 215, representing a 15-seat net gain. However, many experts predicted the Republicans to end up with a 25 to 30-seat gain.
Meanwhile, the 100-seat Senate control remains up for grabs, with three tight contests still considered too close to call.
Trump endorsed dozens of candidates in both races with mixed results. Trump-backed candidates lost in a few highly watched contests, including the senate race in Pennsylvania. Former US President Donald Trump himself stated that the midterm elections "disappointing" despite big win for Republicans.
"Trump frightens many voters - especially women of all stripes and various minorities - and has become a liability for the GOP," Gerald Horne, the University of Houston Professor of African American History, told Sputnik, adding that moderate Republican and independent women voters also abandoned many Republicans and supported Democratic candidates because of the congressional party's support for a national ban on abortions.
Also, Horne pointed out, Republicans failed on a wider range of issues because they had no plausible policies to offer on getting federal spending and inflation under control.
The attempt by Republicans to campaign on rising energy prices had failed to resonate with voters, Michael Brenner, University of Pittsburgh Professor of International Affairs observed.
Former President Barack Obama had a noteworthy impact on the midterm election results, too, with his calls for the need to preserve democracy and maintain a common ground between moderates on both sides, Brenner added.
"Obama's compelling message about common ground had an impact on more moderate Republican voters not supporting election deniers and other Trump-endorsed candidates," he said.
