GOP/STEVE BANNON/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “President Donald Trump is siding with Republican Senate incumbents in key re-election races, potentially putting him on a collision course with Steve Bannon, the onetime White House chief strategist who has declared a ‘season of war’ on their party’s establishment.
The two men have praised each other and their efforts in public. Behind the scenes, they have been unable to reach agreement on how to proceed in some Senate races, according to people familiar with their conversations. In a speech on Friday, Mr. Bannon described Mr. Trump as ‘an instrument’ in a larger movement, instead of the leader of one…
In Washington, Mr. Trump has shown a willingness to protect sitting senators. He stood with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in the Rose Garden last week and declared that he and Kentucky’s longest-serving U.S. senator are ‘closer than ever before.’ Mr. Trump last week phoned at least three incumbents and committed his support: GOP Sens. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, John Barrasso of Wyoming and Deb Fischer of Nebraska.
No challenger has yet surfaced for Mr. Barrasso or Ms. Fischer, both members of the McConnell leadership team.”
-Michael C. Bender and Janet Hook, “Trump Backs Some GOP Senators as Bannon Escalates ‘War’ on Incumbents,” The Wall Street Journal online, Oct. 22, 2017 11:59pm