Dems Bracing for the Worst as Reports of Impeachment Defections Roll In

The impeachment of Donald Trump has been controversial from the very start, as the Democrats have seemingly been looking for an excuse to get the ball rolling for months, if not years.

Now, after another several weeks of public hearings have come and gone, and the national polling on impeachment hasn’t moved much at all, the Democrats will soon be voting on two articles against President Trump:  Obstruction of Congress and abuse of power.

Unfortunately for the Democrats, there seem to be some cracks appearing in the big blue wall.

House Democratic leaders are bracing for some defections among a group of moderate Democrats in swing districts who are concerned a vote to impeach President Trump could cost them their seats in November.

Lawmakers and senior aides are privately predicting they will lose more than the two Democrats who opposed the impeachment inquiry rules package in late September, according to multiple officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to talk frankly. Two senior Democratic aides said the total could be as many as a half-dozen, while a third said the number could be higher.

Predictions about some defections come as a core group of centrists from districts Trump won in 2016 are having second thoughts. While many knew impeachment would never be popular in their GOP-leaning districts, some have been surprised that support hasn’t increased despite negative testimony about Trump from a series of blockbuster hearings last month.

The coming Senate trial was already considered to be a foregone acquittal for Donald Trump, but this will almost certainly seal the deal of public opinion on the matter.