ELECTION/GOP/RALLY/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “President Donald Trump’s political team wanted to rally in Florida next week beside Ron DeSantis, the Republican nominee for governor, and the Republican who hopes to succeed him in the House. But sources familiar with the talks say the congressional candidate, Michael Waltz, declined amid concerns about the risks of publicly stumping with Trump, and instead wanted the president to headline a private fundraiser in his central Florida-based district. Both prospective events fell through in the end. The episode provides a revealing glimpse into the midterm election homestretch, where many Republican House incumbents and candidates are scrambling to lock down their elections — and to keep some distance from their party’s polarizing president. Waltz’s district is usually a safe Republican seat, but he’s facing a stiff challenge from Democrat Nancy Soderberg.”
–Marc Caputo, “Florida Republican House candidate snubs Trump rally,” Politico, October 4, 2018 9:43 pm