A new poll found that Democrats have a 10-point lead among registered voters, while cities across the US make an effort to step up on clean energy

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New poll reflects a growing opposition to Trump

With critical primary contests under way ahead of the 2018 midterm elections, enthusiasm among Democrats and the so-called “resistance” to Donald Trump continues to dominate the mood of the American electorate.



The proof is in the numbers: a new poll released this week from NBC News and the Wall Street Journal found Democrats with a 10-point lead among registered voters across the country.

But perhaps more striking was the growing opposition to Trump specifically, reflected in the survey’s finding that voters, by a whopping 25-point margin, prefer a candidate for Congress who promises emphatically to serve as a check on the current president. By a similar margin, voters said they would be less likely to cast a ballot for candidates who have supported Trump on most issues.

Democrats appear to avoid disaster in California primaries Read more

The findings reinforce the trend across other polling in recent months showing Democrats favored to win, although the party’s overall advantage has narrowed from 13 points or more at the end of last year to just over five points today. That Democrats’ numbers have remained steady even as Trump’s own approval ratings have ticked upward underscores how he could well remain a liability for the Republican party as it seeks to hold on to control of both chambers of Congress in November.



According to the same poll, a majority of Americans expressed satisfaction with the direction of the US economy, and a plurality of respondents credited Trump with improving the economic outlook. Even so, voters were more likely to disagree with his policies on a number of issues, including immigration and healthcare, and continue to disapprove of his overall job performance.

The findings come days after Democrats strengthened their prospects of retaking control of the House of Representatives during Tuesday’s coast-to-coast primaries.

The results marked another big night for Democratic women running for office, who made gains in states ranging from New Jersey to New Mexico and Iowa, and the party had a respectable showing in California.

Trump nonetheless retains overwhelming support from Republican voters, who have been willing to forgive the president no shortage of controversies.

Many of Trump’s recent actions – from an aggressive crackdown on immigrants to reigniting his feud with predominantly black athletes who kneel during the national anthem – resemble an effort to exploit the culture wars that helped propel him to the presidency.

The question is whether those same tactics will drive even more Democrats, whose resistance is rooted in these precise issues, to the polls.

Cities across the US launch a collective renewable energy effort

Meanwhile, as Donald Trump snubs the rest of the G7 leaders on Saturday by leaving their summit in Canada early – before key meetings on climate change, energy and the state of our oceans – US cities are making more effort to step up on clean energy.



The mayor of Boston, Marty Walsh, announced two days ago that several cities across the country are launching an effort to buy renewable energy collectively. His stated hope is that the collaborative effort could cut down on renewable energy purchasing costs for the cities, and create new incentives for green energy production.

Walsh made the announcement at the International Mayors Climate Summit taking place in Boston simultaneously with the annual US Conference of Mayors.

“Climate change and climate resiliency is not a city issue, it’s a nationwide issue,” Walsh said in an interview with the Boston Globe, announcing the plans for the “large-scale renewable energy initiative”, involving Los Angeles, Chicago, Pittsburgh and others.

But not forgetting that talk is cheap, activists organized protests in Boston yesterday to demand that the city turns words into action on its pledge to be carbon neutral by 2050, and other green proposals. “Kayaktivists” also took to the water in Boston Harbor opposite the mayors’ venue – during a classic New England clambake event, demanding more progress on climate change and less cheerleading for the natural gas industry.



With eco chants still ringing in his ears, no doubt, Walsh will take part in the LGBTQ Pride March in Boston on Saturday.