White House hunts for scapegoat

Trump White House aides have started seeking a scapegoat for expected bad midterm election losses in key House and Senate races, sources familiar with the matter say.

Operatives blame Trump privately

Republican political operatives say privately that Trump's decision to start the Iran war in an election year caused higher prices and a nationwide voter backlash.

“Clearly it's the president's fault”

James Blair becomes the target

Eyes have fallen on deputy chief of staff and political strategist James Blair, who organized Trump's turnout strategy and the midterm cycle redistricting plan.

Redistricting gambit backfired badly

Blair's redistricting plan was supposed to bring roughly ten to fifteen House pickups for Republicans. But five months later, some redistricted seats now favor Democrats instead.

Blair's allies defend the strategy

Blair's allies say criticism is unfair because he could not have foreseen the Iran war's effects and scandals involving Trump officials that undid his planning.

Blair may walk to the gallows

Blair has perhaps made it too easy to single him out by explicitly owning the House midterm strategy. He may now be blamed despite low expectations helping him.

“He may be walked to the gallows with that same rope”