Democratic Rep. Elissa Slotkin, the party’s top candidate in a key Senate race in Michigan, was notably absent from President Joe Biden’s rally in Detroit due to a scheduling conflict. While there is concern among down-ballot Democrats that Biden’s performance could negatively impact their races, recent polling suggests that Democratic Senate candidates are outperforming Biden in key states. This has led to some unease among Democrats, with fears that Biden may drag them down.
Slotkin’s decision to distance herself from Biden comes as ticket-splitting, where voters choose different parties for president and down-ballot races, is becoming less common. Polls show Democratic Senate candidates leading GOP rivals in key states, while Biden is in a close race or trailing Trump. Despite this, Biden’s campaign remains confident that Democrats will win up and down the ballot in the upcoming election.
In states like Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Virginia, Democratic Senate candidates are polling ahead of Biden. There are concerns that Biden’s slipping support could impact down-ballot Democrats, leading to a potential shift in ratings for key Senate races. Some speculate that a decline in support for Biden could result in widespread ticket-splitting in the upcoming election.
Overall, the disparity in polling numbers between Biden and Democratic Senate candidates has raised concerns among Democrats about the impact of the presidential race on down-ballot races. Slotkin’s absence from the Biden rally reflects this unease, as she seeks to run a successful campaign while navigating the complexities of a close election.
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