Kornacki: NBC News poll shows Democrats ‘opening up a lead’ over Republicans on generic ballot

Elections and Political Landscape - The report discusses critical elections in Virginia and New Jersey, one year after Donald Trump's election and one year before the midterms [1] - Former President Obama campaigned for Democratic candidates, attempting to link a Republican candidate to President Trump [2] - A Democratic socialist is seeking to become New York City's next mayor, facing opposition from Republicans and some Democrats [3][4] - President Trump falsely described the Democratic socialist candidate as communist and threatened to withhold funding for New York City if he wins [4] Candidate Strategies and Voter Sentiment - A Republican candidate in New Jersey is trying to distance himself from President Trump while still appealing to independents and some Democrats [5][6][10] - Voters are split, with some who previously supported President Trump now expressing dissatisfaction due to immigration policies [7] - The Republican candidate emphasizes local issues like property taxes, electricity bills, public safety, and education [9] Poll Data and Midterm Elections - An NBC News poll shows Democrats with an 8-point advantage on the generic ballot, a significant increase from earlier in the year [13] - Trump's approval rating is falling, and Democrats are opening up a lead on the generic ballot [13] - There is a higher level of interest in the midterm elections among Democrats compared to Republicans [15] - The Democratic party has an image problem, with a majority of voters holding a negative view [16] - Republicans and Democrats are nearly equal regarding which party would handle the economy better, a shift from previous years where Republicans had a double-digit advantage [17][18] - The poll suggests that opposition to the president is a significant motivator for voters [19]