“A well-funded Republican political apparatus has quietly sought to tip the scales in key GOP primaries this year, funding local-sounding super PACs to try — with limited success so far — to knock off hard-right Republican candidates,” Axios reports.
“So far, the effort prevailed in just one of six races, underscoring the challenges in pulling a party still in thrall to Donald Trump’s political brand away from the fringe.”
…
Aaron Blake sees signs that Democrats might avoid a wave election:
“They remain competitive on the generic congressional ballot, and some key GOP Senate candidates are underperforming the fundamentals in their states.”
“Another sign suggesting that Democrats’ prospects aren’t overly bleak: fundraising. Despite the GOP’s apparent momentum in the midterms, Democratic Senate candidates as a whole are far outpacing Republicans in many key races when it comes to campaign money, as we learned last week.”
…
“Anxiety is setting in among Republicans over Herschel Walker’s bid to oust Sen. Raphael Warnock (D) in Georgia after a series of unforced errors and negative headlines that have rocked the former football star’s general election campaign,” The Hill reports.
…
“Senate Democrats’ campaign arm outraised its Republican counterpart in the second quarter of 2022 amid a fierce battle for control of the upper chamber, which is split 50-50,” ABC News reports.
CNN reports Republican operatives working on a series of Senate races “appear more dour of late, with some admitting their candidates have yet to take advantage of the helpful environment, allowing their Democratic opponents to stand out, raise money and prepare.”