DEMS/ELECTION/GOP/RALLY/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “Don’t expect Donald Trump to cop to a ‘thumpin” or a ‘shellacking’ if the midterm elections turn into a triumph for Democrats. The President, even as he races around the country animating rowdy campaign crowds and launching a full-on media blitz, is making one thing clear: if Republicans go down on November 6, it’s not on him. Like much of Trump’s unorthodox presidency, his strategy is laced with contradictions. It also raises the question of whether he can credibly argue that his presidency is on the ballot to get his supporters out to vote and then turn around and say his record has nothing to do with a possible Republican disaster. But he’s going to try. Thursday [10-18-18] begins a week-long stretch where the President will hold five campaign rallies in five different states — he starts Thursday night in Montana and then goes to Arizona on Friday, Nevada on Saturday, Texas on Monday and Wisconsin on Wednesday — in the span of seven days. All of the states have competitive Senate races where Republican candidates are locked in tight races or hoping to unseat a Democratic incumbent.”
–Stephen Collinson, “Trump’s willing to carry Republicans … unless they lose,” CNN Politics, CNN.com, October 18, 2018 1:21 am