Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) communications director Meredith Kelly admitted on Monday night that voters in swing districts don't care about the Russia investigation involving President Donald Trump.
Fox News host Martha MacCallum said the DCCC must have a tough time getting its message out with all the news coverage of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Many Democrats and members of the media have speculated that Russia colluded with Trump's presidential campaign, a charge the president has dismissed.
"Russia is certainly a big topic and this investigation is one that a lot of people are focused on, but Democratic candidates all across the country are actually talking directly to voters about the issues that impact their everyday lives," Kelly said.
Kelly said Democratic candidates are starting to break though the Russia coverage by talking about issues like affordable healthcare, jobs, and higher wages. MacCallum followed up to ask Kelly whether voters care about the Russia investigation.
"Do you know a lot of people that care about Russia when you talk to folks who are out there in the country? Do they care?" MacCallum asked.
"It's not the first, second, or third thing that voters are telling us in the House battlefield in these swing districts," Kelly said. "I think people want this investigation to go unimpeded, but they really care about those pocketbook issues and that's what Democratic candidates are trying to focus on."
Kelly's comment echoes what CNN reporter Maeve Reston said back in January about people not caring about the Russia investigation.
"Remember, even in 2016 when we went out to these swing states and talked to voters, there was still this fear that things were suddenly going to turn down again," Reston said. "You don't feel that as much anymore. And I'm so interested to see how the Russia investigation affects things, because so far, out in these districts when you talk to people about Russia – and that's all we talk about at CNN basically – they say they don't care."
"It doesn't have any effect on their lives," Reston added.