Michigan Senate race narrows as Democrats try to defy political pressure as Biden’s approval rating drops

Following Joe Biden’s debate performance two weeks ago, the concern for many Democrats has shifted from whether the president will be re-elected (a growing likelihood) to whether he will drag down lower-ranking Democrats.

Of the three branches of power — the House, the Senate and the White House — the Senate has long been the one with the most at stake. Democrats hold a 51-49 majority, but an open seat in West Virginia is expected to easily flip from Democrat to Republican, effectively starting the Senate battle 50-50.

So as the odds of retaining the presidency grow slimmer, one fundamental truth is becoming ever clearer to Senate Democrats: They essentially have no path to retaining their Senate majority unless Biden is reelected, with the vice president being the breakthrough vote if former President Donald Trump wins.

So even if all of the vulnerable Senate Democrats were reelected, it would not be enough to maintain their majority. Democrats still point out that they are unlikely to flip Republican-held seats in Texas and Florida (both of which are rated Republican). But such a scenario seems fanciful if Biden falters nationally.

The Democratic Party has already