This post was originally published on Politico.
Republicans are already privately blaming President Donald Trump as they brace for losses on Tuesday.
Even as they race to distance themselves from his actions on tariffs, the unpopular Iran war and his mass deportation agenda, few have been willing to criticize him publicly — a clear sign of just how powerful Trump’s grip remains on the GOP. But interviews with roughly a dozen candidates, campaign officials and lawmakers reveal they’re acutely aware of who, exactly, put them on the back foot this entire cycle.
“There was a point earlier this year where we really felt like we could defy history,” said
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