WASHINGTON _ They are getting outraised. They are struggling in suburbia. And their top guy is dividing America. But suddenly, five weeks from Election Day, Republicans are seeing tangible evidence of a spike in GOP enthusiasm that has eluded them all cycle.
"It's got to be Kavanaugh," said Republican pollster Robert Blizzard, coming to the same conclusion as GOP operatives nationwide: The Democrats' efforts to block President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee are backfiring with Republicans who were previously apathetic about the midterms but are now angry _ and engaged.
Conversations with pollsters, strategists and party officials reveal that Republican voters are circling the wagons around Brett Kavanaugh, Trump's Supreme Court nominee who has been accused of sexual assault, allegations he strongly denies. And now, there are concrete signs that the drama over his confirmation, complete with emotional Senate hearings and an FBI supplemental investigation, is helping Republicans close an enthusiasm gap with Democrats, which has been one of the GOP's biggest challenges of the last two years.
