US Democrats push anti-corruption message in midterm homestretch

Nearly nine in 10 Americans believe government corruption is widespread – a consensus Democrats hope to capitalise on as voters make up their minds on whether to keep billionaire Donald Trump's Republicans in power.



Former president Barack Obama has hammered the message home in recent days as he stumps for Democratic candidates in must-win states, hoping to flip control of Congress.



Trump "is very much focused on enriching himself and his family and his cronies", Obama told a rally on Oct 28 in Georgia.



Ray La Raja, a political science professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, said Democrats' goal with such anti-corruption rhetoric is partly about "energising the base" of steadfast Democrats to make sure they vote.



But it also aims to create a "narrative to get those swing voters, those persuadable independents" who are generally upset about the economy, to "come out" on Nov 3.



Democrats head into the midterm elections with high expectations, as the party of a sitting president historically loses seats – Trump's approval ratings are at record lows – and there is broad discontent over high prices.