US elections: Could the stimulus stalemate hurt the Democrats?

A host of factors could influence the results of the 2020 US Presidential elections, be it the Covid-19 crisis, Donald Trump's popularity, racial tensions in certain states or the struggle over Supreme Court vacancy.


However, the results of a recent poll indicate that the stalemate over the stimulus package could also be another deciding factor on November 3.

Since The Cares Act — the $2.2 trillion stimulus package that Congress passed in March - the Democrats and Republicans have been locked in an intense fight over another round of stimulus.

New polling data suggests that a majority of Americans are in favour of another round of stimulus, underscoring the strong need for more support from the government to businesses and communities ravaged by the Covid-19 crisis.

A New York Times/Siena College poll held between October 15-18 has shown 72% of Americans support a $2 trillion Covid-19 stimulus package.

The concern for the Democrats, however, could come in the form of whom the voters blame for the deadlock in the deal, and whether it influences their vote come Election Day.

40% voters blame House speaker

Nancy Pelosi

more for the failure to agree on a stimulus deal, according to a Yahoo News/You Gov poll.


Donald Trump’s recent push for a stimulus after halting the negotiations with Democrats earlier, and his targeting of House speaker Nancy Pelosi for the delay, is a sign that he is also aware of the dire need for a stimulus.

In the same poll, 66% respondents have said the Senate should first vote on a stimulus package before confirming

Amy Coney Barrett

's nomination to the Supreme Court.

If a deal is struck before November 3 elections, the president is likely to turn it into his main poll plank for the final days of campaigning. Even if the deal is undone before Nov 3, the president would want to win the perception battle. “I want to do it even bigger than the Democrats,” he had said.

Meanwhile, House speaker Nancy Pelosi has been facing flak, both from within the party and outside, over her refusal to accept the $1.8 trillion deal proposed by the White House.

Prominent among those who have called for Pelosi to take the deal offered by Trump are Ro Khanna, a Congressman from California, and

Andrew Yang

, who ran for President during the 2020 Democrat primary.

Pelosi’s recent interview with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer also came in for sharp criticism from various quarters for her evasive and, at times, disrespectful responses to questions on why she is holding out on a deal.

Many analysts have also said the Democrats are wary of giving Trump anything going into the election so as not to resurrect or boost his reelection chances, pointing to Pelosi remark in an open letter to House Democrats earlier this week.

"President only wants his name on a check to go out before Election Day and for the market to go up,” wrote Pelosi.