USA Today Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page said the sense that the Obama administration is "not competent to protect the American people" is a "big factor" going into the midterm elections.
"Both of these stories, the Ebola virus and the threat from ISIS are feeding into a sense that Americans have that the world is not only a dangerous place but the government is not competent to handle them," Page told Face the Nation on Sunday.
"I think it is a very dangerous thing for president Obama, the sense that his administration is not competent to protect the American people, that is the most fundamental job of a U.S. president and I think it is a big factor in the midterm elections."
Page said that Republicans are seizing on the major national security issues ahead of November 4 and suggested even the recent secret service controversies have added to the overall concern from Americans.
"I think it is increasingly--that set of issues are contributing to a sense that Republicans in particular are trying to tap as we go into these final weeks before the election," Page said.