| | | | Here's exactly what Donald Trump will say on November 7 | | Fast forward one week with me: The 2018 midterm elections are (mostly) over. Democrats have regained the House majority for the first time since 2010. Republicans have narrowly held onto their Senate majority, adding a single seat.
President Donald Trump holds a news conference to talk about the results -- and what they mean for him and his 2020 prospects. And he says this*:
"We always knew this was going to be a very tough election. Most presidents have lost huge numbers of seats in the House and Senate. When I first took office, many people said we would lose the House and Senate. And lose them badly. Many presidents have suffered far greater losses in their first midterm election. Remember that we held the Senate yesterday. Maybe if those guys in the House had stuck a little closer to me, we might have held the House too. So true. So, all in all, this election is far better than the fake news media and the so-called experts were saying. And we still have control of the Senate, so important, so we can keep appointing conservatives judges to the federal bench."
*Yes, this is a thought experiment. We don't know, exactly, what will happen on Tuesday night. Democrats could win the House and the Senate. Republicans could keep their majorities in both. But a split -- Democratic House, Republican Senate -- is, without question, the most likely scenario based on history and all the available polling data we have.
And if you have ANY doubt that Trump would throw House Republicans under the bus if/when they lose the majority, the President's tweet Wednesday directed at outgoing House Speaker Paul Ryan following Ryan's criticism of his birthright citizenship announcement should clear that up nicely. Trump tweeted:
"Paul Ryan should be focusing on holding the Majority rather than giving his opinions on Birthright Citizenship, something he knows nothing about! Our new Republican Majority will work on this, Closing the Immigration Loopholes and Securing our Border!"
Also remember that Trump is not someone who often takes blame -- for, well, anything. (Remember him saying recently that even if Republicans get a shellacking this November, it won't be his fault?) He's also not someone who has experienced loss in the political context. He's run one race and he won it. While his name isn't on the ballot next week, there is no doubt that many people will blame Trump. And he won't like it.
Asked Wednesday by reporters, Trump said he won't blame Ryan or "anybody" if Republicans lose the House. If you believe that, I have a hot company named Theranos you might be interested in.
The Point: This election -- win or lose -- will be a major moment for Trump's presidency. And we all know how he reacts to bad news. (Not well.)
-- Chris | | "He can tweet whatever he wants while he sits around watching TV, but he is profoundly wrong."
-- Former Senator Harry Reid, firing back at President Trump citing Reid's recanted comments about ending birthright citizenship in 1993. | | | 📈BREAKING POLLERCOASTER NEWS 📉 | | New numbers today from CNN and SSRS show that hope for Democratic gains in the Senate lies in the southwest:
Arizona Senate --
Kyrsten Sinema: 51%
Martha McSally: 47%
Nevada Senate --
Jacky Rosen: 48%
Dean Heller: 45%
These states also happen to be where Republicans have told President Trump to keep away.
While Trump has criss-crossed the country visiting states where his support runs high, he has been noticeably absent from Nevada and Arizona ... on purpose. The thinking? Trump's presence isn't seen as helpful for either state's Republican Senate candidate.
(Trump will be campaigning in Florida tonight -- follow live coverage here.)
Speaking of the Arizona and Nevada Senate races ... both happen to fall in the top five of the 💰most expensive💰 Senate races around the country. More on that below! | | | A supergroup comprised of Phoebe Bridgers, Julien Baker and Lucy Dacus? Meet boygenius. | | One Supreme Court justice wanted to marry another Supreme Court justice before they were ever Supreme Court justices -- how's that for a fast fact?
This is all just coming to light, too.
In an excerpt of his book "First" -- a biography of Sandra Day O'Connor -- author Evan Thomas unearthed something amazing: A letter from William Rehnquist to Sandra Day, asking her to marry him.
"To be specific, Sandy, will you marry me this summer?" Rehnquist wrote in the letter from 1952.
(The proposal wasn't totally out of the blue; Day and Rehnquist had dated for a time when they were both at Stanford Law School.)
Lauren's note: Seriously, read to the end of this story. It's worth it! | | 💸 BIG SPENDERS 💸 SENATE EDITION | | The most expensive Senate races in the country, by TV ad spending: - Florida: $13.5 million (Sen. Bill Nelson vs. Rick Scott)
- Nevada: $8.6 million (Jacky Rosen vs. Dean Heller)
- Missouri: $8.3 million (Josh Hawley vs. Sen. Claire McCaskill)
- Indiana: $6.9 million (Sen. Joe Donnelly vs. Mike Braun)
- Arizona: $5.9 million (Kyrsten Sinema vs. Martha McSally)
Info from CMAG Data, compiled by our colleague David Wright. | | SEARCHING FOR HIS SHAKER OF SALT ... ON THE STUMP | | Beach jamz crooner Jimmy Buffett is bringing Margaritaville to the campaign trail this weekend.
The life-long Floridian is headlining an event with the Florida Democratic Party on Saturday. Buffet plans to perform a short solo acoustic set in West Palm Beach with Sen. Bill Nelson and Mayor Andrew Gillum, along with a GOTV rally.
Also headed to the campaign trail? Oprah! The media mogul will campaign for Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrams this weekend. | | | From Brenna: "Ivanka Trump's hair during the 'Pledge to America's Workers' event looked flawless, but then somehow she made it look even better. Share The Point with your middle-parted pals!" | | | | | | |
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