“Senate Republicans have been forced into a defensive crouch as they head into the final weeks of their campaign to protect their endangered majority” Politico reports.
“The party is plowing some $100 million — nearly all of its Senate war chest — into reelecting eight senators in tough races. The few GOP candidates with a shot at picking off a Democratic seat have been left to fend for themselves, with no significant air cover from the national party for now. The GOP is still confident it will win back Jeff Sessions’ old seat in Alabama that Democrat Doug Jones won in 2017 a special election — and they’re spending to do so. But that’s the only offensive target where Republicans are currently engaged: The party, for instance, has no outside money invested in Michigan between now and Election Day despite Trump carrying the state in 2016 and the GOP touting its candidate, veteran and businessman John James. Republicans were always going to be on defense this year, with twice as many GOP seats as Democratic ones on the ballot. But as the political environment has shifted away from the party in recent months, and Democratic challengers have raised eye-popping sums, it has made expanding their opportunities all but impossible.”