The Daily 202: Improving poll numbers give Republicans hope that the midterms might not be so bad
Improving poll numbers give Republicans hope that the midterms might not be so bad President Trump, flanked by Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan, addresses the Republican congressional retreat last week. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters) BY JAMES HOHMANN with Breanne Deppisch and Joanie Greve With Scott Clement THE BIG IDEA: If it felt like a tsunami was headed for Republicans at the end of the year, now it’s looking more like a normal wave. Under the radar, a flurry of new public polls points to incremental improvements in GOP fortunes and challenges the narrative that has been gelling in most of the media’s campaign coverage. There has been a small but significant rise in President Trump’s approval rating over the past month and a shrinking Democratic advantage in the generic congressional ballot, which is moving closer to a level where Republicans could hold onto the House. Growing support for the tax bill, enacted just before Christmas, is a major fact...