We’re several months away from the 2018 midterms and there are reasons to believe that the much-promised "blue wave" might, in fact, become more of a blue trickle.

In the latest ABC/Washington Post Congressional Generic Poll, Republicans have closed the gap to just four percentage points, a 47 percent to 44 percent approval for Democrats over the GOP. In January, Democrats held double-digit leads in most generic polls.

But even more concerning for the blue team: The enthusiasm gap flipped. Liberals might be turning out to march and protest, but when asked if they are very likely to vote in the midterms, 74 percent of Republicans are answering that they will definitely vote, versus just 68 percent of Democrats.

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Now, a snapshot poll six months away from the elections isn’t the end of the game. Republican candidates still have to run quality campaigns focused on winning over voters. Let's be honest, the GOP has, on occasion, figured out a way to snatch an election or two from the jaws of victory.

It’s not inconceivable for Democrats to gain 15 to 20 seats in the House, lose seats in the Senate, and find themselves in the minority still in 2019. All of those marches, lawsuits, exposes and leaks will have all been feel-good distractions instead of soul-searching moments. Of course, if the left loses in 2018, they would want to finally drop Nancy Pelosi Nancy PelosiPelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare House lawmakers reach deal to avert shutdown Centrist Democrats 'strongly considering' discharge petition on GOP PPP bill MORE (D-Calif.) as House minority leader but, at that point, does it really matter?

She’d be replaced by someone just as left of mainstream Americans, maybe even more so, and the party will go even further left. It’s perhaps only when Democrats lose a soul-shattering presidential election in 2020 that there potentially will be a wake-up call, when all the excuses will be dropped and the adults step back into the room and make it the party of JFK again.

In this campaign cycle, however, a path to winning for Republicans is clear: They need to address pocketbook issues that help their constituents every day. Lowering taxes, protecting American industries and jobs, and reducing the size and reach of government. Their campaigns must also make visceral what until now has largely been an esoteric, CNN/MSNBC-created threat — impeachment and derailing of the Trump agenda if Democrats regain control of Congress, and endless hearings on Russia, Russia, Russia.

The Democratic National Committee, which still is in debt to the tune of $6.3 million, decided to file a frivolous lawsuit against Wikileaks, Russia and the Trump campaign. The Democrats just can’t stop living in the past — ironic, for a party that keeps telling Republicans to stop talking about Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonButtigieg stands in as Pence for Harris's debate practice Senate GOP sees early Supreme Court vote as political booster shot Poll: 51 percent of voters want to abolish the electoral college MORE. The DNC still hasn’t worked through the stages of grief after Trump won; it is still rooted firmly in the denial of reality. Rep. Jackie Speier Karen (Jackie) Lorraine Jacqueline SpeierOvernight Defense: House to vote on military justice bill spurred by Vanessa Guillén death | Biden courts veterans after Trump's military controversies House to vote on 'I Am Vanessa Guillén' bill Overnight Defense: Trump's battle with Pentagon poses risks in November | Lawmakers launch Fort Hood probe | Military members can't opt out of tax deferral MORE (D-Calif.) called the suit “ill-conceived” while Sen. Claire McCaskill Claire Conner McCaskillMomentum growing among Republicans for Supreme Court vote before Election Day Democratic-linked group runs ads in Kansas GOP Senate primary Trump mocked for low attendance at rally MORE (D-Mo.) went further, calling it a “silly distraction.” Both were attempting to minimize what may end up being a major headache for the party. After all, the suit exposes the DNC to possible discovery on the DNC's coordination with Russia in the last election cycle, the DNC"s role in the Fusion GPS conspiracy, and other political dirty tricks.

The party's ongoing questionable judgment aside, what this is really all about is a massive case of “It’s not us, it’s you and the Russians.” This entire year-and-a-half has been a monumental temper tantrum from the political left and many in the mainstream media, looking for any excuse as to why they lost a presidential election they shouldn’t have lost.

They are convinced that surely the American people want more government, higher taxes, guns confiscated, Trump removed from office, massive policy changes based on climate change, transgender rights, abortion on demand, open borders and amnesty for all. Surely the American people wanted all of this — except those bad Russians, with their $832 Facebook ad buys in Michigan and $300 Facebook ad buys in Pennsylvania that got dozens of clicks, completely changed the election results.

This is all just a major case of the denials. As the Democratic Party goes further and further left in its major flirtation with socialism, it’s like the party ship got taken over by the Left and with all the energy and money inside the party from the Left.

Unless there is adherence and full commitment to the far-left’s unholy doctrine, there’s really no room, especially in the leadership, for someone more moderate. The Democrats want to make excuses about Russians, but that’s a convenient excuse to deny the fact that the Left is actually driving the Democratic Party onto the rocks of becoming a coastal, regional, elitist party that has nothing to do with the priorities of the American people.

If Republicans can figure out how to message, how to sell what they’ve been able to accomplish so far, execute the fundamentals of good campaigns with fundraising, absentee-ballot and early-vote programs, and remind people what the Democrats will do in regards to impeachment, Republicans can hold on to Congress.

Ned Ryun is a former presidential writer for George W. Bush and the founder and CEO of American Majority.