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Beto and Cruz Latest, Sinema Pickup, Cuomo Skips Debate: 4 Days to Go ‘It Could Happen,’ Trump Says of Democratic House Takeover: 4 Days to Go
(about 13 hours later)
Welcome to The Tip Sheet, a daily political analysis of the 2018 elections, based on interviews with Republican and Democratic officials, pollsters, strategists and voters.Welcome to The Tip Sheet, a daily political analysis of the 2018 elections, based on interviews with Republican and Democratic officials, pollsters, strategists and voters.
President Trump, at the rally Friday afternoon in West Virginia, acknowledged four days before the midterm election that Republicans could lose the House.
“It could happen, could happen. We’re doing very well, and we’re doing really well in the Senate, but could happen,” Mr. Trump said in the face of an intense Democratic campaign effort to overcome the G.O.P.’s 23-seat majority in the House.
“And you know what you do? My whole life, you know what I say? ‘Don’t worry about it, I’ll just figure it out,’” he said.
A few observations:
• Republican officials have been worrying for months about dozens of party-held House seats where incumbents retired or Democrats fielded strong candidates, but Mr. Trump has mostly projected optimism — in part because he has endorsed so many of the Republican House candidates who are now in tough races.
• His self-made image as a party kingmaker is very much on the line on Tuesday.
• Mr. Trump has his next rally Friday evening in Indianapolis. We’ll see if he changes his tune to a more upbeat note.
One of the hottest topics as we enter the final weekend before the midterms is the state of the Senate race in Texas:One of the hottest topics as we enter the final weekend before the midterms is the state of the Senate race in Texas:
• Does Senator Ted Cruz really enjoy a comfortable lead over Representative Beto O’Rourke?• Does Senator Ted Cruz really enjoy a comfortable lead over Representative Beto O’Rourke?
• Or are the polls not accounting for a surge in turnout, especially among millennials and first-time voters?• Or are the polls not accounting for a surge in turnout, especially among millennials and first-time voters?
Internal Republican polling indicates that Mr. Cruz is ahead by about 8 or 9 points, depending on the survey. Those polls, according to G.O.P. officials, are assuming a turnout of just over six million voters.Internal Republican polling indicates that Mr. Cruz is ahead by about 8 or 9 points, depending on the survey. Those polls, according to G.O.P. officials, are assuming a turnout of just over six million voters.
That would be a sizable turnout for a midterm election. In 2014, when Greg Abbott, the Republican nominee for governor, defeated Wendy Davis, slightly more than 4.7 million voters went to the polls. By contrast, in the 2016 presidential election, just under nine million Texans cast ballots.That would be a sizable turnout for a midterm election. In 2014, when Greg Abbott, the Republican nominee for governor, defeated Wendy Davis, slightly more than 4.7 million voters went to the polls. By contrast, in the 2016 presidential election, just under nine million Texans cast ballots.
Public polls and Democratic surveys have showed a tighter race — a Quinnipiac poll taken last week showed Mr. Cruz leading by 5 points — and many Democrats believe that Mr. O’Rourke can narrow the gap.Public polls and Democratic surveys have showed a tighter race — a Quinnipiac poll taken last week showed Mr. Cruz leading by 5 points — and many Democrats believe that Mr. O’Rourke can narrow the gap.
What may determine the ultimate margin is, yes, turnout. Will the total number of voters be closer to the 2016 election or the last midterms? If it’s a big number, the thinking goes, it’s a boost for Mr. O’Rourke.What may determine the ultimate margin is, yes, turnout. Will the total number of voters be closer to the 2016 election or the last midterms? If it’s a big number, the thinking goes, it’s a boost for Mr. O’Rourke.
It was a split-screen moment in Texas on Thursday afternoon.It was a split-screen moment in Texas on Thursday afternoon.
As President Trump, at the White House, warned of an immigration “crisis,” Mr. O’Rourke described a different reality during a campaign event less than two miles from the southern border.As President Trump, at the White House, warned of an immigration “crisis,” Mr. O’Rourke described a different reality during a campaign event less than two miles from the southern border.
“There’s never been a better time for us to be alive, to be from Texas and to be from the U.S.-Mexico border,” he told several hundred supporters at a rally in Brownsville, Tex. Mr. O’Rourke spoke as troops dispatched by Mr. Trump began arriving on the border.“There’s never been a better time for us to be alive, to be from Texas and to be from the U.S.-Mexico border,” he told several hundred supporters at a rally in Brownsville, Tex. Mr. O’Rourke spoke as troops dispatched by Mr. Trump began arriving on the border.
With early voting underway, Mr. O’Rourke is trying to energize Latino voters, who are crucial to his chances in this deeply red state. While Mr. O’Rourke has excited Democrats, he remains a long shot. But he may be narrowing the gap with Mr. Cruz in the final days: A new poll by Emerson College showed Mr. Cruz leading by 3 points, within the margin of error. (Mr. Cruz led Mr. O’Rourke by 8 points in a New York Times/Siena College poll in October.)With early voting underway, Mr. O’Rourke is trying to energize Latino voters, who are crucial to his chances in this deeply red state. While Mr. O’Rourke has excited Democrats, he remains a long shot. But he may be narrowing the gap with Mr. Cruz in the final days: A new poll by Emerson College showed Mr. Cruz leading by 3 points, within the margin of error. (Mr. Cruz led Mr. O’Rourke by 8 points in a New York Times/Siena College poll in October.)
Though he has shied away from negative attacks, rarely mentioning the president by name, Mr. O’Rourke dismissed Mr. Trump’s recent moves on immigration as scare tactics.Though he has shied away from negative attacks, rarely mentioning the president by name, Mr. O’Rourke dismissed Mr. Trump’s recent moves on immigration as scare tactics.
“This desire to stir paranoia and fear on the part of the American public is a political ploy, five days away from the deciding election of our lifetime,” Mr. O’Rourke said.“This desire to stir paranoia and fear on the part of the American public is a political ploy, five days away from the deciding election of our lifetime,” Mr. O’Rourke said.
President Trump has been using one word a lot lately: “momentum.”President Trump has been using one word a lot lately: “momentum.”
Republicans had it, he has argued, but lost it a bit in recent days. At a rally in Missouri on Thursday, he offered a cause: mail bombs and the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre.Republicans had it, he has argued, but lost it a bit in recent days. At a rally in Missouri on Thursday, he offered a cause: mail bombs and the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre.
“We did have two maniacs stop a momentum that was incredible because for seven days nobody talked about the elections,” he said, applying a level of executive punditry rarely seen from past presidents so soon after national tragedies. “It stopped a tremendous momentum.”“We did have two maniacs stop a momentum that was incredible because for seven days nobody talked about the elections,” he said, applying a level of executive punditry rarely seen from past presidents so soon after national tragedies. “It stopped a tremendous momentum.”
Mr. Trump quickly acknowledged the horror — “we don’t care about momentum when it comes to a disgrace like just happened to our country,” he said — before returning to his core point, in case anyone missed it: “But it did nevertheless stop a certain momentum. And now the momentum is picking up.”Mr. Trump quickly acknowledged the horror — “we don’t care about momentum when it comes to a disgrace like just happened to our country,” he said — before returning to his core point, in case anyone missed it: “But it did nevertheless stop a certain momentum. And now the momentum is picking up.”
What’s most telling is that for the second time this week, Mr. Trump seems to be casting about for pre-excuses in the event of a disappointing Election Day. He also recently lashed out at Paul Ryan, the retiring House speaker, for questioning the constitutionality of Mr. Trump’s proposal to end birthright citizenship, saying that Mr. Ryan should be more focused on holding a majority.What’s most telling is that for the second time this week, Mr. Trump seems to be casting about for pre-excuses in the event of a disappointing Election Day. He also recently lashed out at Paul Ryan, the retiring House speaker, for questioning the constitutionality of Mr. Trump’s proposal to end birthright citizenship, saying that Mr. Ryan should be more focused on holding a majority.
In Albany, the only person missing at the governor’s race debate on Thursday was the incumbent, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo.In Albany, the only person missing at the governor’s race debate on Thursday was the incumbent, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo.
[Read a new Times profile of Mr. Cuomo.][Read a new Times profile of Mr. Cuomo.]
He skipped a forum featuring four other candidates, including Marcus J. Molinaro, the Republican nominee, and Stephanie Miner, the former mayor of Syracuse, who is running as an independent.He skipped a forum featuring four other candidates, including Marcus J. Molinaro, the Republican nominee, and Stephanie Miner, the former mayor of Syracuse, who is running as an independent.
Mr. Molinaro, 43, continued to hammer Mr. Cuomo for his inattention to the upstate economy and the state’s well-deserved reputation for corruption — he called Albany “a cesspool of bad behavior” — while trying to capitalize on his primary opponent’s reluctance to debate.Mr. Molinaro, 43, continued to hammer Mr. Cuomo for his inattention to the upstate economy and the state’s well-deserved reputation for corruption — he called Albany “a cesspool of bad behavior” — while trying to capitalize on his primary opponent’s reluctance to debate.
“He’s high on optics,” Mr. Molinaro said. “And low on return.”“He’s high on optics,” Mr. Molinaro said. “And low on return.”
Representative Kyrsten Sinema, the Democratic nominee for Senate in Arizona, got a boost on Thursday in her race against Representative Martha McSally, a Republican, when a third-party candidate abandoned her bid and endorsed Ms. Sinema.Representative Kyrsten Sinema, the Democratic nominee for Senate in Arizona, got a boost on Thursday in her race against Representative Martha McSally, a Republican, when a third-party candidate abandoned her bid and endorsed Ms. Sinema.
The Green Party candidate, Angela Green, told a local NBC affiliate that she would support the Democrat, supplying a potential last-minute lift for Ms. Sinema. A New York Times/Siena College poll in mid-October showed Ms. McSally and Ms. Sinema in a close race, as have more recent surveys.The Green Party candidate, Angela Green, told a local NBC affiliate that she would support the Democrat, supplying a potential last-minute lift for Ms. Sinema. A New York Times/Siena College poll in mid-October showed Ms. McSally and Ms. Sinema in a close race, as have more recent surveys.
But the endorsement’s effects of the move may be limited. Early voting is already well underway, and Ms. Green’s name will still appear on the ballot.But the endorsement’s effects of the move may be limited. Early voting is already well underway, and Ms. Green’s name will still appear on the ballot.
Mr. Trump told the Christian Broadcasting Network that evangelicals are “going to show up for me” on Election Day “because nobody’s done more for Christians or evangelicals or frankly religion than I have.”Mr. Trump told the Christian Broadcasting Network that evangelicals are “going to show up for me” on Election Day “because nobody’s done more for Christians or evangelicals or frankly religion than I have.”
But The Times spent a month listening to young evangelicals, and they have different ideas.But The Times spent a month listening to young evangelicals, and they have different ideas.
Thanks for reading The Tip Sheet. Have you checked out On Politics with Lisa Lerer, our evening newsletter? Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox.Thanks for reading The Tip Sheet. Have you checked out On Politics with Lisa Lerer, our evening newsletter? Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox.