Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) has warned that the Republican Party could suffer a defeat akin to the 2006 midterms, when the party lost control of both the House and Senate during George W. Bush's second term. Daines, who headed the Senate Republican campaign arm in the last election, described the outlook as dire.
Fox News political analyst Brit Hume echoed that sentiment, saying this week that "the Republicans don't have much going for them this cycle. The polls all suggest that, the mood of the country suggests."
Those polls paint a grim picture. A Quinnipiac University survey found that 51 percent of registered voters would choose Democrats if the House election were held today, against 39 percent who would back Republicans — a 12-point gap. Voters consistently express dissatisfaction with Republican governance, skepticism of President Trump and a growing willingness to consider Democratic alternatives.
Trump himself is seen by many in the party as a liability. Poll after poll shows his approval ratings low, with voters voicing concern about the cost of living, the economy and the war on Iran. With just weeks until Election Day, his propensity for generating controversy remains undimmed, much to the chagrin of some Republicans.
A small but growing number of Republicans have crossed the aisle to endorse Democratic candidates, including a former governor, a GOP election official and a former Senate candidate.
In a sign of a deteriorating battlefield, the Senate Leadership Fund, the leading Republican super PAC dedicated to Senate races, has pulled money from North Carolina and is diverting it to Kansas, which has become a growing concern for the party as it seeks to hold its majority. The New York Times reported the move on Friday. Trump is now playing defense, touring deep-red strongholds that typically require little attention.