US midterm polls: How division and confusion play a role?

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Just hours before millions of voters head to polls for 2018 US midterm elections, both Republicans and Democrats are making their final pitches.

While President Trump isn't on the ballot, he is at the center of the debate.

On one hand, Trump has warned voters about the threats of undocumented immigrants if Democrats win the house, the Democrats, on the other hand, have accused Trump of fearmongering and attacked him for killing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act also known as Obamacare.

Will Trump and his GOP prevail through a campaign built on fear and division? Or will the Democrats take enough power in Congress to impede anger? The midterm elections, widely viewed as a referendum on Trump's leadership, will deliver a verdict to the nation amidst tragedy and conflicts.

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Rick Dunham, a visiting scholar at Tsinghua University, underlined the contrasting rhetoric by Trump and his predecessor Barack Obama. “Fear and anger” from Trump vs “hope and change” from Obama.

“The US democracy has been turned on its head in ten years,” commented Dunham.

However, Dunham admitted that “fear and anger” is thriving across the western world and is driving nationalism and anti-immigrant sentiments that have affected the elections.

He also compared Trump's presidency to his earlier career as a reality TV show host, “He is running this as a reality TV show, as long as he keeps getting high ratings, and he's not canceled, I think he's going to continue to do whatever has worked for him.”

Li Yong, a senior fellow from the China Association of International Trade, echoed Dunham's views on Trump's strategy. Li explained that by labeling threats and creating fear, Trump and his fellow Republicans try to appeal to the electorate as a solution.

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In addition, Li pointed out that “confusion” is the word to describe the domestic politics in the US.

“That's probably how Trump is going to benefit the most because by confusing people he's going to divide the society so much that no majority group is going to be for somebody or against somebody,” said Li. “That is what he sees and this is what he's been trying to do.”

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