ELECTION/GOP/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “President Donald Trump is sharing some of his campaign warchest with congressional Republicans ahead of the 2018 midterm elections, part of a joint effort with the Republican National Committee announced Thursday to protect GOP majorities in Congress and curry favor with Republicans on Capitol Hill. The RNC will provide the largest contribution at the start, doling out $4 million to both the National Republican Senatorial Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee. The Trump campaign will max out contributions to nearly 100 candidates in its first found of contributions — ensuring thousands of dollars for each candidate selected. The RNC raised more than $200 million for this election cycle by mid-July — the fastest the committee has reached the milestone in a midterm period. But Thursday’s cash infusion comes after another fundraising quarter in which dozens of House Republican incumbents were outraised by their Democratic challengers. Trump has been the party’s most powerful fundraising force, helping the House GOP campaign arm haul in $32 million at a March fundraising dinner. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence have also ramped up their appearances on the campaign trail — particularly for Republicans challenging incumbent Democratic senators in states Trump won in 2016. Still, despite polls consistently showing Trump’s approval ratings remaining high with GOP voters, they’ve also shown that Democrats, angered by Trump’s presidency, are much more enthusiastic about voting in November’s midterm elections — putting the House up for grabs and leaving Republican-held Senate seats in Nevada, Arizona, Tennessee, and perhaps even Texas vulnerable.
–Maegan Vazquez and Eric Bradner, “RNC and Trump campaign fork over millions to keep Republican majorities,” CNN Politics, CNN.com, July 26, 2018 11:50 am