The Midwest eases its Trump swoon and flirts again with Democratic candidates
Source: Washington Post
NEW ALBANY, Ohio Troy Balderson, the Republican candidate for Congress, wanted to make one thing clear: He would not support President Trump on everything. He would not ever support separating families to control immigration. He was not yet sold on the presidents tariffs on Chinese goods.
Im here to represent the people of the 12th Congressional District, Balderson said. Not Donald Trump.
The district, which Republicans won in 1982 and have not relinquished since, supported Trump by 11.3 points over Democrat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election. Ohio overall swung dramatically toward Trump in 2016, part of a near sweep of the Midwest that gave him the presidency and his party complete control in Washington.
But doubts about the ongoing tariff battle and about the administrations agenda on health care, spending and immigration have changed the terrain. Rather than back the president and Republicans, the Midwest has begun to flirt with candidates who would keep them in check.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/the-midwest-eases-its-trump-swoon-and-flirts-again-with-democratic-candidates/2018/07/15/92ef34ae-8530-11e8-8f6c-46cb43e3f306_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.4eb7a9b3f49b