Iran war pressure on US Republicans ahead of November elections: report

WASHINGTON, United States — WASHINGTON — Growing concern among U.S. Republicans that the war with Iran has become a political liability ahead of the November midterm elections is weighing on the party as the conflict enters its sixth month and fuel and living costs climb, according to a Bloomberg report. Republican strategists told the outlet that the war's continuation poses a difficult electoral test for President Donald Trump and the party. Trump had initially projected the operations would last four to five weeks, but the conflict has now stretched to roughly six months. Republicans are working to preserve their congressional majorities, while Democrats see an opening to reclaim seats in the House and Senate by focusing on living costs and the administration's falling popularity. Polling cited in the report shows Republican support for the operations slipped from 77% in March to 69% in August, with Trump's approval rating at 33%. Cook Political Report on August 20 reclassified Senate races in Texas and Iowa as competitive, signaling tighter contests in states Republicans had considered safe. Party leaders have avoided publicly challenging Trump, even as anxiety grows that the war is increasingly being framed as an economic issue rather than a military one.