Trump admits keeping a majority in US Senate will be tough

Donald Trump has privately admitted to donors that keeping hold of the Senate will be “very tough” for Republicans.

Donald Trump holds a rally at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport in Londonderry, New Hampshire on Monday. Picture: AFP

Donald Trump has privately admitted to donors that keeping hold of the Senate will be “very tough” for Republicans.

“I think the Senate is tough, ­actually,” the President told a fundraiser in Nashville before last week’s second debate against Joe Biden, 77. “The Senate is very tough.”

His admission to a gathering where up to $US250,000 ($350,000) was paid for tickets reflects Republican anxiety over keeping hold of the chamber, especially if Mr Trump, 74, loses to Mr Biden next week.

Unlike Senate Republicans, however, Mr Trump seemed to ­ascribe party difficulties to his own unwillingness to back some of the candidates.

“There are a couple senators I can’t really get involved in,” Mr Trump said, according to a recording leaked to The Washington Post. “I just can’t do it. You lose your soul if you do. I can’t help some of them. I don’t want to help some of them.”

In fact, vulnerable Republican senators are concerned about being overly tied to Mr Trump.

Which party controls the Senate would have a huge effect on how productive a Biden presidency could be.

The Republicans have had a majority in the 100-seat chamber since 2015. At present there are 53 Republican senators, 45 Democrats and two independents who are in effect Democrats. Just over a third of the body is up for election for a six-year term next week.

Of the seats up for grabs, Democrat incumbent Doug Jones in Alabama is likely to lose, and in Colorado and Arizona Republicans could lose.

Two more Democratic victories would take the Senate to 50-50, giving the vice-president, as president of the Senate, the casting vote. Senate control could hinge on who wins the presidential election a week on Wednesday.

One possible Democratic gain is in Maine. Susan Collins, 67, the incumbent since 1997, is likely to be one of those Mr Trump does not want to support. This week Senator Collins will vote against Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation to the Supreme Court, and she has refused to say whether she is voting for Mr Trump in the presidential election.

THE TIMES