President Donald Trump’s decision to go on the offensive and refuse to apologize regarding Supreme Court justice Brett Kavanaugh’s sexual assault allegations seems to reveal a midterm strategy: energize the base and consider Kavanaugh’s opponents lost votes anyway.

According to a Monday New York Times report, Trump is taking a risk to get lethargic conservatives fired up with the “man unfairly accused” narrative, taking a chance that those who react badly to that messaging would not have supported his candidates anyway.

The real question now, and for the new few weeks, is which base is more angry, energized and motivated?

Per the Times, there is a stark partisan divide over Kavanaugh support. Democrat men and women strongly oppose Kavanaugh, while Republican men and women strongly support him. Among independents, men more readily support Kavanaugh while women generally side with the accusers.