The federal investigation into President Trump possibly colluding with Russia to defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016 has faded as a driving political issue as the midterm elections approach.
Even as the New York Times reported Thursday that special counsel Robert Mueller has subpoenaed the Trump Organization for documents pertaining to any relationship the president's business empire had with Russian interests, a major development in a potentially explosive probe, senior political strategists of both parties conceded that it stopped registering as a top concern for American voters months ago.
A year ago, Trump was roiling the national politics with his very public fixation on the Russia investigation, and his battle against then-FBI Director James Comey.
As the probe continued, Trump eventually shifted his attention to more conventional subjects, only occasionally dropping a tweet or making remarks to lament what he calls a "Witch hunt." The issue gradually lost its political punch as a result, with the electorate growing numb despite Mueller rolling out indictments against individuals connected in some fashion to the president.
"There's no question that Trump benefits when a critique of his tax and healthcare policies is not front and center - especially when voters are hearing Trump's side of the story on the economy," PUSA's pollster wrote in the memo.
According to a March 7 to 14 Pew Research Center survey released Thursday, 61 percent of voters have confidence in Mueller to "Conduct a fair investigation." Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed Mueller, a former FBI director, special counsel last spring, after Trump fired Comey.
Still, 46 percent of Republicans and GOP-leaning independents are very or somewhat confident Mueller will conduct a fair investigation.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/mueller-investigation-loses-punch-as-it-moves-closer-to-trump
Even as the New York Times reported Thursday that special counsel Robert Mueller has subpoenaed the Trump Organization for documents pertaining to any relationship the president's business empire had with Russian interests, a major development in a potentially explosive probe, senior political strategists of both parties conceded that it stopped registering as a top concern for American voters months ago.
A year ago, Trump was roiling the national politics with his very public fixation on the Russia investigation, and his battle against then-FBI Director James Comey.
As the probe continued, Trump eventually shifted his attention to more conventional subjects, only occasionally dropping a tweet or making remarks to lament what he calls a "Witch hunt." The issue gradually lost its political punch as a result, with the electorate growing numb despite Mueller rolling out indictments against individuals connected in some fashion to the president.
"There's no question that Trump benefits when a critique of his tax and healthcare policies is not front and center - especially when voters are hearing Trump's side of the story on the economy," PUSA's pollster wrote in the memo.
According to a March 7 to 14 Pew Research Center survey released Thursday, 61 percent of voters have confidence in Mueller to "Conduct a fair investigation." Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed Mueller, a former FBI director, special counsel last spring, after Trump fired Comey.
Still, 46 percent of Republicans and GOP-leaning independents are very or somewhat confident Mueller will conduct a fair investigation.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/mueller-investigation-loses-punch-as-it-moves-closer-to-trump
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