President Donald Trump is hammering his own voters with what one analyst describes as a "triple whammy" stemming from his renewed trade war with Canada — a set of policies that has roiled Republican voters, particularly in rural areas, heading into November's midterm elections.

The president revived his enthusiasm for trade wars this week, announcing new tariffs on Canadian goods while relaxing rules to allow more than 300,000 metric tons of foreign ground beef to enter the U.S. market. Canada ranks among the United States' largest trading partners, and both moves have unsettled Republicans, especially those in rural areas, according to Chuck Todd, host of the "Chuck ToddCast" podcast and former moderator of NBC's "Meet the Press."

Todd laid out the implications during a new interview on CNN's "News Central." He said the combination of the two decisions, along with the disastrous impact the war against Iran has had on fuel prices, has created a "triple whammy" that could turn voters away from Republicans in the midterms.

"These are his policies," Todd said. "His trade war with Canada, this decision on beef and his decision to go to war with Iran. These aren't things you're going to be able to easily say, 'Well, we're still trying to clean up after Biden.'"

The moves have also given Republicans cover to run from Trump, Todd explained. In competitive races, that matters because candidates are already trying to balance loyalty to the president with pressure from voters who care about prices, farm markets and fuel costs.

"You had the republican nominee in Wisconsin, a Trump endorser, say, 'Hey, I don't like what he's done with beef,'" Todd said. "You've already had the two Senate candidates in New Hampshire pull back on what they said he was doing with Canada. So, you're going to start to see more Republicans feel like they have no choice if they want to speak to the independent swing voter to find some distance with the president."

Source: Raw Story