GOP tries to save its Senate majority, with or without Trump

Senate Republicans are fighting to save ir majority, a final election push against onslaught of challengers in states once off limits to Democrats but w hotbeds of a potential backlash to President Donald Trump and his allies on Capitol Hill.

Fueling campaigns are Trump ministration’s handling of COVID-19 crisis, shifting regional demographics and, in some areas, simply chance to turn p on divisive political climate.

Control of Senate can make or break a presidency. With it, a reelected Trump could confirm his minees and ensure a backstop against legislation from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. Without it, Joe Biden would face a potential wall of opposition to his nda if Democratic minee won White House.

In rth Carolina, for example, match-up between GOP Sen. Thom Tillis and Democratic challenger Cal Cunningham, among most expensive in nation, is close.

“At some point, you put it in hands of voters,” said Dallas Woodhouse, a former executive director of state's Republican Party.

Republican incumbents are straining for survival from New England to Deep South, in heartland and West and even Alaska. Overpowered in fundraising and stuck in Washington until just last week to confirm Trump's Supreme Court minee, y are fanning out some alongside Trump for last-ditch, home-state tours to shore up votes.

With chamber w split, 53-47, three or four seats will determine Senate control, depending on which party wins White House. vice president breaks a tie in Senate votes.

What started as a lopsided election cycle with Republicans defending 23 seats, compared with 12 for Democrats, quickly became a more stark referendum on president as Democrats reached deeper into Trump country and put GOP on defense.

Suddenly some of nation’s better-kwn senators — Lindsey Graham in South Carolina, Susan Collins in Maine — faced strong reelection threats. Only two Democratic seats are being seriously contested, while at least 10 GOP-held seats are at risk.

“I don’t see how we hold it,” said Chip Felkel, a Republican strategist in South Carolina who opposes president.

Felkel ded: “You’d be hard pressed to mit we don’t have a Trump problem.”

political landscape is quickly changing from six years ago when most of se senators last faced voters. It's a reminder of how sharp national mood has shifted in Trump era.

Younger voters and more mirities are pushing some states toward Democrats, including in Coloro, where parties have essentially stopped spending money for or against GOP Sen. Cory Gardner because it seems he is heing toward defeat by Democrat John Hickenlooper, a former goverr.

In more Republican-friendly terrain, GOP senators must balance an appeal to Trump's most ardent supporters with outreach to voters largely in suburbs who are drifting away from president and his tone .

Tillis is struggling to gain ground in rth Carolina, a presidential battleground, even after Cunningham's sex-texting scandal with an aide.

Arizona could see two Democratic senators for first time since last century if former astronaut Mark Kelly maintains his vant over GOP Sen. Martha McSally for seat held by late Republican John McCain.

A vivid dynamic is in Iowa, a state Trump won in 2016 but is w a toss-up as Sen. Joni Ernst struggles to fend off Democrat newcomer resa Greenfield. Ernst wowed Republicans with a 2014 debut about castrating hogs but she faced criticism after last month's debate when she stumbled over break-even price for soybeans.

In Georgia , Trump calls David Perdue his favorite senator among many who have jockeyed to join his golf outings and receive his private phone calls. But first-term senator faces a surge of new voters in state and Democrat Jon Ossoff is playing hardball.

Ossoff called Pedue a “crook” over senator's stock tres during pandemic. Perdue shot back that Ossoff would do anything to misle Georgians about Democrats' “rical and socialist” nda.

Democrats have tapped into what some are calling a “green wave” — a new era of fundraising — as small-dollar donations pour in from across country from Americans expressing ir political activism with ir pocketbooks.

Graham’s challenger in South Carolina, Jamie Harrison, has raised so much money — some $100 million — that it sent top Trump ally scrambling to take race seriously. Graham swiftly raked in his own record haul as he led Senate confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett to Supreme Court.

Competitive races are underway in Republican strongholds of Texas, Kansas and Alaska where little kwn Al Gross broke state records, Democrats said, in part with viral s introducing voters to military-veteran-turned-doctor who once fought off a grizzly bear.

Swooping in to fill gap for Republicans is Senate Leership Fund, tapping deep-pocketed dors . Casi magnate Sheldon elson has funneled more than $60 million to help Republicans hold Senate.

Over weekend, fund was pouring $4.6 million to one of rare Republican bright spots — in Michigan, where John James, a Black Republican businessman is gaining on Democratic Sen. Gary Peters.

“We see a potential opportunity,” said Senate Leership Fund president Steven Law.

only or state where Republicans are playing offense is Alabama, where Democratic Sen. Doug Jones pulled off a rare special election win Trump stronghold but w ws a longshot campaign against Republican Tommy Tuberville, a former Auburn football coach.

“We are confident heing into home stretch because we remain on offense is so many seats across country,” said Stewart Boss, a spokesman for Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

COVID crisis has showed Senate races as Democrats linked Trump's handling of pandemic to GOP's repeated attempts to undo Obama-era Affordable Care Act, particularly its insurance protections for those with preexisting medical conditions. Republicans fired back that Democrats want to keep ecomy closed, hurting jobs.

David Flaherty, a Coloro-based Republican pollster, said his surveys are showing that COVID will be “ most likely issue many voters will make ir decisions on.”

“In more places in country than t, president is t getting good marks” on that, Flaherty said, and it’s damaging Senate GOP candidates, “especially those in lockstep with president.”

Several races may drag well past election night including if candidate secures a majority, including in Georgia or Maine, where Collins was once considered among most independent senators, is w confronting critics from right and left.

Jesse Hunt, spokesman for National Republican Senatorial Committee said races are tightening in final days.

“We always knew this was going to be a competitive election cycle,” he said.