Top House Democrat promises the Democratic Party will finally have its core message figured out 'by this fall'

The 2018 midterm elections are right around the corner, and Democrats still don't have their party's core message figured out. House Democratic Caucus Chairman Joe Crowley, the No. 4 House Democrat, recently "hesitated" when asked to define what Democrats want to convey to voters.

"That message is being worked on. We're doing everything we can to simplify it, but at the same time provide the meat behind it as well. So that's coming together now," the New York congressman told The Associated Press, eight months after his party suffered unexpectedly crushing defeats in the 2016 elections. The AP noted Democrats' losses were partly because of a lack of a "consistent message."

Crowley's response likely won't assure voters already uncertain of the party's message. A Washington Post/ABC News poll released Monday revealed that only 37 percent of Americans think the Democratic Party "stands for something." Fifty-two percent suggested that the Democratic Party "just stands against [President] Trump."

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Crowley assured voters that Democrats are "all working on" getting their message sorted out soon though. "We're hoping to have this up and running and out by this fall," Crowley said.