New poll shows troubling signs for Democrats in midterm election

By Don Tagala, ABS-CBN North America Bureau

Oct. 28, 2014

JERSEY CITY, NJ – With only a week before the US midterm elections, a new CNN/ORC international poll shows 70 percent of Americans are angry with the country’s direction and 53 percent disapprove of President Barack Obama’s job performance.

Political analysts say, the Democratic Senate majority is in danger and the House is also in danger of losing more Democratic seats.

Currently, Democrats control the Senate by a 55-45 margin – two of those seats are held by independents who are Democratic allies.

Republicans controls the house by a 234 to 201 margin.

Filipino Americans who are registered voters in Jersey City, N.J. say they are angry too.

“Dapat manalo Republicans,” registered Republican Becky Payumo said. “We need a change, this time we need a change. We cannot have a president that doesn’t know how to protect America. I think he is an inexperienced president.”

Some Filipino American registered voters say they are skipping the polls on election day.

“I don’t participate in voting,” Jersey City resident Jason Paguiligan said. “It’s not going to change anything.”

A US citizen for 25 years now, Marisse Panlilio said, “I’d rather not (vote) and not feel bad na binoto ko to, eh tapos hindi pala. I’d rather keep quiet and not put a check mark (on the ballot).”

Jersey City Democratic Council President Rolando Lavarro says a shift in the balance of power in Congress could potentially roll back the Obama administration’s achievements such as healthcare reform and worker’s equal pay.

Lavarro said, “The balance or power in Congress is at stake, and if we think things have been difficult until now to get things done, imagine a Senate that’s entirely Republican controlled and right-wing dominated. That makes me afraid personally.”

Lavarro says the outcome of the midterm elections will set the stage for the 2016 presidential elections.

“A Republican-dominated Congress will likely stymie everything, try to roll everything back,” Lavarro said. “With a Democratic controlled Congress, we see progression with healthcare reform; we’ll see more movement towards immigration reform; we’ll see getting something enacted there.”

Whether they’re democrats or republicans, they all agree on one thing come November 4…

The youngest Filipino American in office, Republican Councilman Peter Mendonez Jr. of West Windsor, NJ said, ”It’s a midterm election, and most people don’t come out to vote. So most importantly we need people to come out and vote whether it’s the red party or blue party.”

With 85 percent disapproval of how it is handling its job, senate and congressional candidates, whether they’re Democrats or Republicans, would need to do a lot of convincing to get these angry voters to support them this time.

You may contact Don Tagala at don_tagala@abs-cbn.com for more information.