Top po​llster​ for Democrats advises party to declare COVID crisis over because 'they risk paying dearly for it' in midterm elections ​

 This month a slew of Democratic governors finally ended COVID-19 restrictions. Earlier this month, CNN medical analyst – who previously compared unvaccinated Americans to drunk drivers and has been in favor of strict mandates throughout the pandemic until recently – said it was now appropriate to drop mask mandates because "the science has changed." However, another possible reason for liberals suddenly dropping COVID-19 restrictions could be an ominous warning to Democrats from a top pollster for the party.

Impact Research is a polling firm that caters to the Democrats and progressive organizations.

"Impact has helped elect Democratic candidates at all levels – from the White House and Congress to state houses and city halls," the polling firm states on its website. "We seek to be an active part of a campaign’s strategic team, involved in message development, voter targeting, and real-time crisis management."

Impact Research boasts about working with prominent Democrats such as President Joe Biden, former President Barack Obama, Hilary Clinton, Gretchen Whitmer, Roy Cooper, and Rahm Emanuel. The company has done polling work for progressive organizations such as Planned Parenthood, NARAL, ACLU, Gates Foundation, and George Soros' Open Society Foundations.

According to Punchbowl News, Impact Research sent out a memo titled "Taking the Win over COVID-19," which has allegedly been "making the rounds among House and Senate Democratic campaigns and consultants for the last week or so."

The memo provides "strategic thoughts" on how Democrats should position themselves regarding the COVID-19. The memo warns Democrats that continuing to press for COVID-19 restrictions could have disastrous consequences in the 2022 midterm elections.

"After two years that necessitated lockdowns, travel bans, school closures, mask mandates, and nearly a million deaths, nearly every American finally has the tools to protect themselves from this virus," the memo begins. "It's time for Democrats to take credit for ending the COVID crisis phase of the COVID war, point to important victories like vaccine distribution and providing economic stability to Americans, and fully enter the rebuilding phase that comes after any war."

The polling company instructs Democrats to "declare the crisis phase of COVID over and push for feeling and acting more normal."

"Recognize that people are worn out; and feeling real harm from the years-long restrictions and take their side," the pollster recommends. "Most Americans have personally moved out of crisis mode. Twice as many voters are now more concerned about COVID's effect on the economy (49%) than about someone in their family or someone they know becoming infected with the coronavirus (24%)."

"Two-thirds of parents and 80% of teachers say the pandemic caused learning loss, and voters are overwhelmingly more worried about learning loss than kids getting COVID," the memo states. "Six in ten Americans describe themselves as 'worn out' by the pandemic."

The Democratic pollster warns politicians, "The more we talk about the threat of COVID and onerously restrict people's lives because of it, the more we turn them against us and show them we're out of touch with their daily realities."

Impact Research advocates for Democrats to recognize that the "threat of COVID is no longer what it was even a year ago and therefore should not be treated as such - shutdowns, masks, and lockdowns were meant to save lives when there was not yet a vaccine that could do that."

According to Worldometers, the rolling seven-day moving average of COVID-19 cases was 71,918 on Feb. 25. Exactly a year ago, the seven-day rolling average for COVID-19 cases was nearly identical at 72,054. On Feb. 25, the seven-day moving average of COVID-19 deaths was 1,642 compared to 2,000 on Feb. 25, 2021.

The polling company instructs Democrats to avoid a zero-COVID strategy as a "victory condition" because "Americans also don't think victory is COVID Zero."

"They think the virus is here to stay, and 83% say the pandemic will be over when it's a mild illness like the flu rather than COVID being completely gone, and 55% prefer that COVID should be treated as an endemic disease," the memo reads. "And that's what most Americans are dealing with – a disease with fatality rates like the flu – because most of us took the personal responsibility to protect ourselves and our families by getting vaccinated."

"Stop talking about restrictions and the unknown future ahead," the pollster advises Democrats.

"If we focus on how bad things still are and how much worse they could get, we set Democrats up as failures unable to navigate us through this," Impact Research cautions.

The memo highlights how Democrats could lose the 2022 midterm elections if they continue to push COVID-19 restrictions.

"And, if Democrats continue to hold a posture that prioritizes COVID precautions over learning how to live in a world where COVID exists, but does not dominate, they risk paying dearly for it in November," the polling company alerts Democrats.