Thread by @chrisgeidner

It really feels like the McConnell comments this week, from the ones about avoiding the White House to the Axios sinking ship story, were a go-ahead sign to Republicans up and down the ballot to do what they need to do to (try and) save themselves.

https://twitter.com/sahilkapur/status/1314926460692582400

Of course, in some races (though fewer by the day, it seems), that’s going to mean doubling-down on Trump. But it does feel like they’re moving to the triage stage.

To be clear, I think McConnell believes they’re going to lose the Senate, too, but, yeah, there’s been an unwillingness to face the reality of where Trump’s at that’s actually made Republicans’ attempts to hold onto lower seats more difficult. That ... might ... be shifting?

Way too little, way too late in my view, obviously. And, there’s no way the Republican Party should be able to get away with any Trump-distancing effort after this past four years, but that doesn’t mean they won’t try.

Postscript: As @KateAurthur smartly drew out of me, this is not to say, “Rest easy.” We don’t know what’s going to happen, so, yes, press ahead full-steam! But, I think it’s also important to note any R shifts trying to save downballot folks — for how Ds should respond there.