The following article by Scott Wong and Alexander Bolton was posted on the Hill website August 31, 2018:
t’s been a brutal summer for the GOP.
President Trump’s secret meeting, and stunning press conference, with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Felony convictions for Trump’s former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, and a guilty plea from his longtime personal fixer, Michael Cohen. Returning flags atop the White House to full-staff less than 48 hours after Sen. John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) death.
Some Republicans say the president’s actions these past few months amount to a series of costly errors that distract from the party’s strong economic message and raise more doubts about whether the GOP can keep control of the House — or even the Senate — in the upcoming midterm elections.