Trump deflects on leaked audio of Ken Paxton calling Texas midterm convention a drag on his poll numbers

Key Points:

• President Trump downplayed leaked audio of Texas GOP Senate candidate Ken Paxton admitting that "everybody's numbers are down" after the recent GOP midterm convention, calling the event "amazing" and highlighting its positive impact on other candidates.
• The audio, published by The New York Times, features Paxton speaking privately to donors, acknowledging that the convention hurt his polling numbers, though his spokesperson dismissed the leak as "manipulated nonsense" and cited an internal poll showing Paxton leading.
• Trump's endorsement helped Paxton defeat incumbent Senator John Cornyn in the primary runoff, despite Cornyn's stronger fundraising and establishment support, but recent polls show Paxton trailing Democrat James Talarico in a challenging Texas political environment.
• Texas Democrats criticized Paxton's leaked remarks as self-serving and embarrassing to Trump, while Cornyn acknowledged the tough race ahead, noting no Democrat has won statewide in Texas since 1994 but warning the GOP faces risks this cycle.
• Trump plans a campaign stop in Denton, Texas, amid forecasted storms, with Paxton's attendance uncertain, as the midterm election looms in a state where shifting demographics and Trump's low approval ratings add complexity to GOP prospects.