Poll: Abortion and inflation collide as top issues in midterm elections

Abortion rights advocates and anti-abortion protesters demonstrate in front of the U.S. Supreme Court on Dec. 1, 2021. Heading in the 2022 midterm elections, abortion leads as the top issue for Democrats. For Republicans, it is inflation. For independents, inflation also tops and abortion ranks second. (Andrew Harnik/AP)

Both major political parties are facing crosswinds heading into the 2022 midterms, with Democrats and many independents motivated by the issue of abortion, while Republicans have the advantage on the economy, according to the latest NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll.

President Biden is also seeing a marginal increase in his approval rating, going from 36% in July to 41% now, largely because of a 10-point jump with independents.