Republican leaders and close advisers are privately warning President Donald Trump that the upcoming midterms could yield significant losses in one or both houses of Congress, Politico reports.
Myriad strategy sessions and mobilization efforts are already underway, and Trump has been meeting with a small group of advisers to plan his role, from planning the president's fundraising efforts to targeting specific demos where Trump seems to be losing support, Politico reports.
The special election in Alabama underscored Trump's low ratings with female voters, for example, fueled by his full-throated support of Roy Moore, accused by several women of sexual misconduct.
And with Trump's approval ratings hovering in the 30s, it makes stumping for Republicans next year a potential pitfall vs. windfall.
"If the president is going to be campaigning, he needs to be very discreet and selective about where he goes," retiring Rep. Charlie Dent, R-Penn., told Politico.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell fears both houses of Congress could fall — despite the fact Democrats have to defend 24 seats to just eight for Republicans — and House Speaker Paul Ryan has told donors that more battleground GOP lawmakers may retire vs. running again, Politico reports.
Ryan himself has had to tamp down reports that he might be one of those to retire in the fall.
But the president still has his base and he is a fundraising machine, having raised more than $30 million for the Republican National Committee this year alone.
Plus, as 2016 showed, the polling is acutely flawed.
"History tells us it will be challenging. How challenging, time will tell," Trump's political director Bill Stepien told Politico. "But we have a strong sense of optimism."
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