Trump blows off Senate Republican leaders on critical endorsements
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Senate Majority Leader John Thune arrives for a vote on Jan. 15. Photo: Anna Rose Layden/Getty Images
Senate Republicans are rallying behind Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), but their big-dollar super PAC will likely leave him out to dry.
Why it matters: Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) is 0 for 3 in the closing stretch on getting President Trump to endorse some critical, embattled GOP incumbents.
- The fractures are forming in the GOP campaign apparatus despite Thune helping secure early Trump endorsements of incumbents in races like Ohio and Florida — and party unity in battleground races like North Carolina and Michigan.
Driving the news: Rep. Julia Letlow (R-La.) is officially challenging Cassidy in the safely red seat — with Trump's backing.
- "The crux of the campaign will not be about endorsements," Cassidy told reporters on Tuesday. "The crux of the campaign is, how do you make Louisiana and the United States a better place?"
- Letlow seemed to take a swipe at Cassidy in her announcement video, saying, "A state as conservative as ours, we shouldn't have to wonder how our senator will vote when the pressure is on."
Between the lines: NRSC Chair Tim Scott (R-S.C.) made clear last year the Senate campaign arm will back Republican incumbents — no matter what.
- The NRSC has not disclosed where it is spending, but it has made clear it is focused on eight battleground states.
- Louisiana is not on that list, according to a source familiar.
Thune campaigned for Cassidy just over the weekend, and Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) told reporters on Tuesday that he's supported the senator "from the beginning."
- But leadership's opinion has not proven influential for Trump.
- The president has so far declined to endorse Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and even called for Sen. Susan Collins' (R-Maine) ouster after she voted for the Venezuela war powers resolution.
What to watch: The Thune-linked Senate Leadership Fund (SLF) super PAC and its mega-dollars will likely stay out of the Louisiana race.
- SLF tends to avoid spending in states not viewed as competitive in the general election. "Anything that distracts from our efforts to beat Democrats in November is unhelpful," SLF executive director Alex Latcham said in a statement.
- At the same time, the group's affiliates are funneling millions of dollars into protecting Cornyn from his primary threats, who they argue is the more electable candidate in November.
- SLF announced today a whopping $42 million to defend Collins, as the Wall Street Journal first reported.
The intrigue: Elon Musk is also jumping into the primary game, as our Axios colleague Alex Isenstadt first reported.
- Musk is spending $10 million to support MAGA candidate Nate Morris for the Kentucky seat being vacated by Sen. Mitch McConnell (R).
- Morris has been polling behind other primary contenders Rep. Andy Barr (R-Ky.) and former state Attorney General Daniel Cameron.
