Emboldened by his ouster of Massie, Trump endorses a horribly flawed Paxton.
The Israel Lobby Takes Out Massie
I hold This View
I believe John Cornyn would have won reelection easily.
At a bare minimum, republicans are going to have to defend the seat with heavy spending.
Trump Popularity
Trump’s Revenge Campaign Sparks Backlash From GOP Senators
The Wall Street Journal reports Trump’s Revenge Campaign Sparks Backlash From GOP Senators
President Trump’s retribution campaign is fracturing support for his priorities in the Senate, where anger is mounting among Republicans over his latest moves to punish GOP critics and reward allies headed into what is expected to be a difficult midterm election for their party.
The growing frustration with Trump could endanger Republicans’ legislative agenda, which relies on their ability to stick together on party-line votes, from immigration-enforcement funding to a gas-tax holiday to tens of billions of dollars for the U.S. war in Iran. It could also weigh on their chances for holding on to their majorities in the House and Senate.
“I think it goes back to the old, ‘Be careful what you wish for,’ ” quipped Sen. Thom Tillis (R., N.C.), who is retiring after Trump made clear he wanted him gone. On votes, he said, “I think there will be fewer political calculations going into people’s decision-making process.”
Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina is gone. He voted with Trump 90 percent of the time. That was not good enough.
That seat is now highly likely to go to Democrats. It’s my base case.
Trump does not like Maine Senator Sue Collins either. Wish granted. I expect that seat to go to a flaming liberal instead.
Iowa Senator Joni Ernst is not running for reelection due to battles with Trump. So consider her gone. I am not at all convinced a Republican will win that seat.
Trump is responsible for the loss of two Senate seats in Georgia, one in Arizona, and another in Pennsylvania.
It’s all because his top priority is 100% loyalty to Trump. He would rather risk losing a seat than put in office someone who does not kiss his ass on everything.
Spotlight Paxton
Paxton Facts
Early Numbers
Paxton Plea Deal
Ken Paxton gave a plea deal to lawyer Adam Hoffman, his friend, for raping a boy (his son’s friend) over three years starting in third grade.
Instead of a felony and sex offender registration, Hoffman gets only 30 days in prison and no registration
My Base Case
I repeat my base case. Nearly every competitive race will break heavily toward Democrats.
I expect Democrats will win the Senate, They may even win Texas and Iowa.
Trump’s endorsement of Paxton just turned Texas into a tossup.
Article posted with permission from Mish Shedlock
