It's not the number of service members who've been killed in the war with Iran. It's not the number of people who have died in ICE custody. It's not the millions of people imperiled by the Trump administration's decision to dismantle USAID.
The number terrifying Republicans, according to a new Washington Post report, is the amount of voters worried about the economy.
“This is a big chunk,” Nathan Nascimento told the Post. “This is a scary number.”
Nascimento, executive director of the conservative super PAC Americans for Prosperity Action, told the Post Sunday that he's disturbed by polling that shows even loyal Republicans and consistent voters are losing enthusiasm for President Donald Trump.
About 1 in 5 of those voters in swing states such as Ohio and New Hampshire told the PAC they think they'll either stay home of vote blue in November, the Post reported.
There is however enthusiasm on the left, Mitchell Brown, a Republican pollster, told the Post.
"Democrats are as enthusiastic about voting as they were at the same time ahead of the 2018 midterm elections, when they swept back into power in the House," Brown said.
"But Republicans are far less excited to vote at this point than they were then, posing an issue for the party."
In particular, men under 40 represent the greatest risk as they are most likely to have concerns about the economy and prices.
"This group proved pivotal to Trump’s 2024 electoral victory," the Post reported, "which included a sweep of some of the same battleground states holding critical elections this year."
Natalie Baldassarre, a spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee, denied a dour state of affairs within her party.
“Republicans are united, on offense, and armed with our largest war chest in party history because voters are energized and understand what’s at stake in November’s election,” said Baldassarre.
As of Sunday, the number of service members who've been killed in the war with Iran is 18. The number of people who have died in ICE custody is 19. The number of people imperiled by the Trump administration's decision to dismantle USAID is 14 million.
