ELECTION/SENATE/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “Officially, President Donald Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania is intended to boost Republican Lou Barletta’s long-shot Senate campaign. But Trump’s own sagging fortunes — and the importance of the state to his 2020 reelection hopes — are top of mind. Barletta faces an uphill battle to oust two-term incumbent Sen. Bob Casey, who holds a massive financial advantage and a double-digit lead in nearly all early public polls. Yet even as some Republicans shrug off the race and look elsewhere to protect their Senate majority, the president remains closely engaged in the state. Trump wants to help Barletta, an early and enthusiastic supporter of his presidential bid. But Trump’s own approval numbers are underwater in the state, which he won by just 1.2 percentage points, and keeping his base motivated through the midterms is critical to laying the groundwork to compete there again in 2020…Few other Republicans have prioritized Barletta’s race. The party sees much better opportunities to flip seats elsewhere, in states that Trump won by wider margins. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell didn’t name Pennsylvania among the states he believes will determine control of the Senate, and a super PAC aligned with the leader hasn’t spent on or booked any TV advertising there.”
–James Arkin, “Trump rallies to boost Barletta — and his own 2020 prospects in Pa.,” Politico, August 2, 2018 2:58 pm