Republicans are moving to shore up Ken Paxton’s faltering Senate bid, as party donors’ and leaders’ concerns mount and they privately call for the Texas attorney general to step up fundraising and campaign appearances.
Trump has privately complained about his performance, complaints that have increasingly spilled into public view as the president repeatedly teased Paxton for being a poor speaker and dresser. “He may not talk exactly perfectly, and he may not be the best-looking guy I’ve ever seen. After the primary, Paxton spent time in Europe, where tabloids published photos of him with a woman in Iceland and England. The growing concerns about Paxton represent a departure for Trump. “I’m sorry, Ken. “I’m so sorry. He’ll never speak to me again, but that’s OK.
A super PAC aligned with Trump last week announced a $10 million ad buy to back Paxton. Overall, Paxton has raised just $9 million to Talarico’s $68 million and Republicans have been waiting for the president and other national groups to come to his aid.
A senior White House official said this week that while they still think Paxton can win the race, he needs to step up and campaign and fundraise more. “Some may not like the way he dresses, I don’t,” the president said as Paxton looked on from the audience. Frustration inside the White House is growing that Republicans need to spend so much time and money on what should be a safely red seat, the senior official said. Some Republicans have criticized him for not visibly campaigning enough, while his campaign has said he is doing so constantly. Before endorsing Paxton in a runoff in May, Trump had read a file about Talarico and concluded he was weaker than the media hype and could be beaten, according to an adviser to the president. Trump said his team told him not to insult Paxton but he did so anyway. Where the hell is he?” the president said. Trump made similar comments about Paxton a week prior, saying, “you might not like the way he looks…but he was the best attorney general in the country, perhaps.”
Several competitive races will decide which party will control the chamber next year, including in Michigan, New Hampshire, Maine, and North Carolina, among others. But Texas is seen as key and unease is mounting that Paxton’s sluggish performance could dampen Republican voter turnout and harm the party’s chances in down-ballot races across the state.
Democrats have gained momentum in several important House races and are favored to take back the House majority, according to several election forecasts.
