A public opinion research firm that aids Democrat politicians advised candidates to “take credit for ending the COVID-19 crisis” in a new memo.
Impact Research shared its Feb. 24 memo with “interested parties” and urged Democrats to “point to important victories like vaccine distribution and providing economic stability to Americans” as they “fully enter the rebuilding phase that comes after any war.”
As part of the suggested positions, Impact says Democrats should announce the crisis phase of the pandemic over and encourage a more normal way of life.
“Thanks to Democrats, we are nowhere near where we were two years, or even one year ago,” the firm wrote. “Democrats have a tremendous opportunity to claim an incredible, historic success. … Because of President Biden and Democrats, we CAN safely return to life feeling much more normal — and they should claim that proudly.”
Impact acknowledged that the majority of Americans no longer regard COVID-19 as a crisis.
“Twice as many voters are more concerned about COVID’s effect on the economy (49%) than about someone in their family or someone they know becoming infected with the coronavirus (24%),” per the memo.
Following a decline in cases after a surge of the omicron variant at the end of 2021, the national vaccination rate has steadily declined. After suddenly surging to an average of 2,264,301 doses administered per day on Dec. 5, the U.S. is reporting an average of 417,363 vaccination per day as of Feb. 24.
The New York Times reported this week that COVID-19 cases declined by 50% or greater in all but four states.
“Deaths were also on the decline, falling 15% in the past week for a seven-day daily average of 1,920,” per UPI.
Impact’s advice reflects a growing urgency among Democrats to rebrand their party’s attitude toward COVID-19 in time to court midterm voters.
“In a desperate attempt to stave off, or at least mitigate, a veritable electoral bloodbath, Democrats have conveniently decided that now is the time to finally stop obsessing over COVID,” wrote Josh Hammer in an opinion piece for Newsweek.
Hammer noted that major polls have observed that the majority of the population wants fewer restrictions given the seemingly endemic status of the pandemic.
“There will be no apologies for the ways that divisive vaccine mandates and pointless mask mandates harm our social fabric and undermine the common good,” Hammer said. “If Democrats could still politically get away with imposing their will, they would do so. It just turns out they can't.”
Democrat candidates were discouraged by the research firm from setting a “COVID zero policy” since most Americans think the virus is here to stay, comparing the virus to a mild strain of the flu. Impact also warned candidates against “talking about restrictions and the unknown future ahead.”
“When 99% of Americans can get vaccinated, we cause more harm than we prevent with voters by going into our third year talking about restrictions,” the firm wrote. “If Democrats continue to hold a posture that prioritizes COVID precautions over learning how to live in a world where COVID exists, but does not dominate, they risk paying dearly for it in November.”
Impact Research says it has “flipped more Republican-held congressional seats over the past ten years than any other polling firm in the country.”
