Nets Gush ‘Struggling’ GOP Have ‘Combative’ Trump, Dems ‘Riding a Wave of Concern’

ABC, CBS, and NBC were ebullient on their lead Tuesday morning newscasts, marking two weeks from Election Day by telling viewers there are “struggling Republicans” nationwide beset by a “combative” President Trump, and that Democrats are “riding a wave of concern over the economy,” and marveling at a Kansas Democrat’s new ad asking for support from Trump voters.

At ABC and CBS, they hurled a slew of negative takes and economic indicators, but, as we’ve seen throughout this midterm cycle, offered nothing in the way of discussing what the side they’re all voting for — progressives — would do with power.

Of course, we’ll start with ABC’s Good Morning America. Senior political correspondent Rachel Scott began with the tiresome narrative that, because the President isn’t campaigning in blue states, that must mean Republicans will get crushed:

Trump is spending nearly all of his time campaigning in states that he won back in the November 2024 election, a sign of just how close these races are that will decide control of Congress. Overnight, with just two weeks to go until the election, President Trump on the campaign trail in deep-red Kansas, as polls show a number of tight races in states he won

Scott whined without any supporting soundbites that Trump referred to “Democrat Adam Hamilton...who is a pastor, openly mocks Jesus.”

She then treated a basic statement by a candidate of either party in a tight race as profound:

SCOTT: Hamilton’s campaign responding to Trump’s attacks by telling reporters, “Marshall’s campaign is sinking and Washington is panicking.” He made this pitch to those who support the President.

HAMILTON: I want Kansans to know: If you voted for the President, you also have a place in my campaign.

Before a standard bevy of negative polls and statistics, Scott screeched Trump’s Kansas rally speech had “turn[ed] combative, launching offensive attacks, including an anti-Semitic slur to defend Marshall” in the same week “Trump’s approval ratings have hit record lows.”

Like a true partisan tool, the liberal Scott argued any Trump handout is a distraction, which she certainly won’t do the next time one of her leftist friends to the same (click “expand”):

Over the last several weeks, he’s offered everything from checks to pardons if Republicans win.

(....)

But polls show what Americans care most about is the economy. Our latest ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll shows 71 percent of voters believe the price of gas is unaffordable. Some Republicans appear to be distancing themselves from the President in the final stretch. An analysis by the group AdImpact shows Trump has only been mentioned in one percent of GOP broadcast ads in October....So, today, Trump is continuing his blitz through states that he won in the 2024 election, going to North Carolina. Then it’s off to South Carolina, Iowa, Florida again, all states the President won. Just shows you just how much defense Republicans are playing[.]

The same blue tsunami tune was on the supposed MAGA network, CBS.

CBS Mornings co-host and Obama donor Gayle King trumpeted over two teases: “Ahead, a warning sign for Republicans in Kansas. You heard that right, Kansas, as President Trump launches new attacks on the campaign trail...President Trump pumps up the rhetoric, campaigning in red states where Democrats are gaining ground in very tight midterm races.”

Senior White House correspondent Weijia Jiang had the same message in her report, stating the “cost of living is giving Republicans trouble in states they are used to dominating, like reliably red Kansas[.]”

She also noted that the President “launched a series of attacks against Democrats, including Michigan Senate candidate Abdul el-Sayed, who’s running several states away.”

Sorry, Weijia, but the left has employed such a strategy for generations in defining entire non-presidential elections through the lens of one candidate in one state. For example, think Todd Akin or Christine O’Donnell.

Like ABC’s Scott, Jiang similarly held up Hamilton’s new ad as a big deal (click “expand”):

JIANG: But Marshall Democratic opponent, Adam Hamilton, is a former Republican and popular pastor at the nation’s largest United Methodist Church.

HAMILTON: I won’t answer to a party, and I won’t answer to any one person in Washington.

JIANG: Hamilton is running neck-and-neck with Marshall, with the economy a top issue for voters. Kansas cattle rancher Jason Hawkins still supports Trump, but remains undecided in the Senate race...Trump’s tariffs and the Iran war’s impact on energy prices have hurt farmers and ranchers, who are paying more for supplies like diesel, fertilizer, and feed.

The second segment was remarkable, as it was one giant dumping ground for the state of the economy. If one didn’t know any better, they were painting a picture of an economy in a recession or even a depression.

Co-host and former NFL player Nate Burleson bragged that “red-state Democrats are riding a wave of concern over the economy,” and that “[a] new poll finds 68 percent of Americans disapprove of President Trump’s handling of the economy.”

Missing from that, and the analysis on fuel and home prices by Saturday co-host Kelly O’Grady? Any mention of what Democrats would do to solve any of these issues, and whether Americans would support that.

In contrast, NBC’s Today continued offering a modicum of balance by mentioning that voters are actually upset with both parties. But that wasn’t until the end of two teases and two segments of negativity toward the GOP.

“Homestretch. Candidates making a final to reach voters with the midterms exactly two weeks away. Democrats seeing signs of success in Republican strongholds...as President Trump blitzes red states looking to stiffen the spine of the Republican base,” co-host Savannah Guthrie declared in a tease.

Fourth-hour co-host Sheinelle Jones insisted Trump has had to conduct his campaigning at an “intense pace” in order to save “struggling Republicans” across the country.

Senior White House correspondent Gabe Gutierrez doubled down:

President Trump is racing to help Republicans hold on to Congress, heading to North Carolina today, where his party is wrestling with a tight race in yet another state he won in 2024. Overnight, President Trump campaigning in a state that’s traditionally deep red...But expressing concern that Kansas could be moving away from the Republican Party.

Gutierrez, however, was the only one to mention Monday’s campaign rally by Vice President JD Vance, whom he said “[tried] to pin the sagging economy on Democrats.”

Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker had the second block, beginning with two negative answers about the GOP (click “expand”):

GUTHRIE: [W]e see President Trump in these deep red states. They really feel that the political operation of the White House and some of these candidates, that if anyone can turn out Republicans in these elections, it’s Trump. Is there any sign it’s having an impact?

WELKER: Savannah, there is, actually. I spoke with an administration official overnight who said they believe the President’s efforts are paying off, specifically pointing to internal polling. Now, these are internal polls, in places like Alaska and Ohio, where they say the races are tight. But look, just a caveat here. These races are already incredibly close. Republicans still believe the President is the most effective messenger at turning out the MAGA base. He’s been announcing those new economic proposals. Gabe just mentioned that. It does cut both ways, though. He also drives out the Democratic base. But look, it’s extraordinary that he’s campaigning in these reliably red states. This does highlight the reality that Republicans are on defense in part because of the President’s approval ratings are underwater. There’s deep dissatisfaction over Iran, the high price of gas. One thing I’ll be watching for, Savannah. We just saw Elon Musk pour millions of dollars into propping up Republican candidates, including in a state like Texas, where Republicans are trying to defend their Senate seat there. Will this last-minute infusion of cash make a difference or will people’s perceptions baked in at this point?

JONES: Kristen, with that said, there are some Republicans who are distancing themselves from the President. Can you talk a bit about that?

WELKER: Sheinelle, look. Candidates learned in 2018 that distancing themselves altogether from President Trump meant they didn’t get the benefit of turning out his base in force. So right now, we’re seeing Republicans walk a fine line. A couple of examples. You have Mike Rogers in Michigan, Dan Sullivan in Alaska. Both have opposed President Trump’s waiving of Russia sanctions. Rogers has even cut an ad, opposing the President’s tariffs. I recently visited Michigan. I spoke with voters across the political spectrum. I can tell you the one thing they have in common, their frustration over the economy. Interestingly, a New York Times analysis, Sheinelle, found less than one percent of Republicans’ television campaign ads in the last month actually mentioned President Trump.

It was only here that the conversation ended with a short discussion of the Democrats, starting with Guthrie: “[T]he Republicans have their problems. Democrats are unpopular, broadly, as well. Where are they facing some of those headwinds?”

Welker didn’t mince words: “[P]olls show that, yeah, while voters might be frustrated with the economy and President Trump, they’re not enthusiastic about the Democratic brand, and one of the big questions Democrats are facing right now? Those ideological differences within the party.”

Welker stated the obvious that “[p]eople want to know what they’re going to do if they win back Congress,” but it could involve a third impeachment case.

Noting “there’s a lot of division on this issue,” she said “voters want some oversight,” but they also “want a clear message from Democrats” about “improv[ing] the economy.”

To see the relevant transcripts from October 20, click here (for ABC), here (for CBS), and here (for NBC).