Less than two months remain until the US midterm elections, and the balance of forces is still not in favor of the Republicans, who currently control both chambers. This potentially weakens Donald Trump's position. On the prospects for the November vote - in this RIA Novosti report.
According to pollsters, the "donkeys" are confidently ahead of the "elephants". Moreover, the gap is far from the conventional statistical margin of error of a couple of percent.
For example, a poll conducted the other day by The Economist with the support of the YouGov platform predicts a result of 49% for the Democrats. The GOP (Great Old Party - "Grand Old Party", another self-designation of the Republicans) - 38.
Others get roughly the same. Only one study in the last three weeks showed a rise in sympathy for the "elephants" - by two percent. But the "donkeys" are still leading.
All this, of course, cannot go unnoticed in the White House, whose current occupant, Donald Trump, has already grown accustomed to full control of Congress.
As befits a successful entrepreneur, which he was before his political career, the president resorted to a method characteristic of businessmen: motivation with money.
"I promise the following: if the Republicans win in the House of Representatives and in the Senate, in both chambers, thanks to our economic successes, <...> I will pay dividends to every adult US citizen in the amount of five thousand dollars," he said recently in Dallas at the GOP national convention.
The lofty promises, however, were accompanied by caveats typical of Trump. In particular, he stressed that voters are obliged to spend the "dividends" only in the United States. How this would be controlled - by tradition he did not specify.
The legality of such an appeal is also in question. Democrats have already declared this to be voter bribery. In the US, of course, the culture of political merchandise is developed (badges, T-shirts, mugs with party symbols, handed out free before elections to just about anyone), but it has not yet come to monetary reward for "loyal" voting - at least publicly, as now with Trump.
Even many Republican supporters do not believe in the notorious five thousand dollars.
For example, car dealer Ross Ma from San Diego, who has always voted for the "elephants", notes in a conversation with RIA Novosti: support for Trump is weakening.
"He constantly promises something - now victory over Iran, now money from oil sales from Venezuela. In the end, I see that gasoline is only getting more expensive. How can I believe him?" - he asks rhetorically.
Indeed, the average price of gasoline is now 4.13 dollars per gallon (3.785 liters), 25% more than last year.
"I am a Republican supporter," Ma continues. "But right now they are doing nothing to even out the situation. So the polls correctly speak about their prospects in November. The Democrats at least need to prepare for the next presidential elections after the failure - perhaps they will do something for ordinary people."
True, after Kamala Harris's defeat, the "donkeys" have still not formed a "bench", and she herself, apparently, has nevertheless abandoned presidential ambitions.
Casey Block from California's Oakland, a Democratic supporter, in a conversation with RIA Novosti also pointed to this.
"Yes, many want to vote for them in the November elections, but a unifying figure is also needed. So far there is none, and without that the party may lose despite all the polls," she noted.
On the other hand, even one bright Democratic senator, if Congress comes under the control of the "donkeys", is capable of quickly solving the personnel problems.
Both parties have problems. Not in favor of the Republicans is the position of Vice President JD Vance, whom many consider a "peace dove" in relations with Iran. This runs counter to Trump's aggressive course, so, observers believe, his chances of becoming the "successor" are falling. Although he looked like the most logical candidate.
Of course, there is also Secretary of State Marco Rubio, but the bets on him are smaller. In general, the situation for the Republicans is sad: they have quite a few charismatic and influential figures, a majority in both chambers of Congress. However, they are clearly losing to the absolutely faceless Democrats at the moment.
For a long time Trump - since his first term - implemented his decisions through presidential executive orders. American legislation interprets the powers of the head of state quite broadly, so if Congress does not express any doubts, the orders become laws.
If the Democrats gain a majority in parliament, it will become much harder for Trump to govern the country. He will have to adjust course, including in foreign policy.