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There's a belief prevalent among Republicans that no matter how bad President Trump's antics become, flyover country voters won't mind. A new story by the Kansas City Star adds fuel to that fable, reporting conversations with half-a-dozen outside-the-Beltway voters who could care less about Trump's firing of FBI Director James Comey.

And while it's true that the president's most diehard supporters will take his word over his critics, that shouldn't offer Republicans much electoral comfort. Anyone who doubts that must explain the last presidential election and the last 25 years of politics.

Not long ago, the Democrat faithful were playing a constant game of whack-a-mole with Hillary Clinton controversies. They didn't care about the private email server, shady Clinton Foundation donors, or the Benghazi attacks. Each was blindly dismissed and they did much to curb the enthusiasm of the overwhelming 84 percent of liberals who backed Clinton.

But it didn't matter. Clinton lost.

Of course keeping the support of a party's base is important, but it's not everything. The last three presidents each enjoyed overwhelming support of their party before losing control of Congress. Consider Obama, whose 80 percent approval rating among Democrats couldn't save him from midterm shellackings in 2010 and 2014.

When Comey testifies in front of the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday, Republicans will be tempted to run to the welcoming arms of the base. That's both understandable and delusional. Trump's supporters might dismiss controversy as unfounded, like Clinton's fan did before, but the White House cannot.

Whether or not the Russia hysteria has merit, Trump's presidency is undeniably suffering as a result. Six months in, Republicans don't have a single significant legislative victory to their name. Obamacare repeal and tax reform have taken a back seat as Trump screeches about unfair "witch-hunts."

As that hysteria unfolds, lawmakers are becoming increasingly nervous as the midterm elections approach. There's a legitimate fear that Republicans will have little to run on, except promises. If recent history is a guide, Trump could face the electoral rebukes both his Democrat and Republican predecessors experienced. If Republicans lose Congress, they'll find little comfort in the continued support of Trump's base.

Philip Wegmann is a commentary writer for the Washington Examiner.

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Ahead of Comey testimony, Republicans shouldn't take too much stock in the support of Trump's base - Washington Examiner