Focus groups reveal anger over corruption

Sarah Chamberlain, president and CEO of the Republican Main Street Partnership, heard complaints about government corruption surge in Colorado focus groups in late August without prompting them.

“They are tired of watching their members of Congress get wealthy, and they're struggling to fill their gas tanks.”

Corruption tops voter concerns nationwide

A Fox News poll released in mid-October found corruption in government was voters' top concern, above inflation, gas prices and health care. Eighty-eight percent said they were extremely or very concerned.

Corruption gains unprecedented importance

Republican pollster Whit Ayres said corruption has steadily gained importance as a critical issue. He added, I never remember corruption as an issue being as important as it is now.

“I never remember corruption as an issue being as important as it is now.”

Economic hardship amplifies corruption message

Political scientist Robert Boatright noted that corruption messaging works best when voters feel economically squeezed. High grocery bills make self-dealing by politicians seem insupportable in ways prosperity might tolerate.

“It's a way to put your finger on people's general dissatisfaction with our politicians, with our economy, with the state of the world.”

Trump's self-dealing fuels the anger

A Washington Post, ABC News and Ipsos poll released October eighteenth found sixty-six percent of voters believed Trump was using the Presidency for personal gain, up from fifty-six percent a year earlier.

Corruption perception at twenty-year high

Gallup found in September that Americans' perception of corruption in government was at its highest level in two decades of polling. Eighty-nine percent said it is widespread, up ten percentage points from a year earlier.

Republicans blamed more than Democrats

An AP-NORC poll from September found forty-nine percent of respondents said corrupt describes Republicans extremely or very well. Just thirty-seven percent took that view of Democrats.

Democrats spend record sums on corruption ads

According to tracking firm AdImpact, Democrats spent one hundred eighty-two million dollars this year on corruption-focused advertising in House and Senate races, far more than Republicans and more than Democrats did in the previous four…

Democrats link corruption to rising costs

Senate Majority PAC advised Democrats to anchor corruption charges to economic consequences. An ad against Ken Paxton in North Carolina said, He got rich lobbying for Big Oil, while they jacked up prices on you.

“He got rich lobbying for Big Oil, while they jacked up prices on you.”