Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is blaming Republican leadership in Washington for controlling his Senate campaign, marking at least the second time he has dragged the GOP for how his campaign is performing.
Paxton acknowledged in leaked audio obtained by Politico that his campaign is being run by outsiders during a luncheon last month hosted by Chris Brinson and Susan Hirschmann from the Washington-based lobbying firm Williams & Jensen.
“I’ve never been in a race where I felt less control over the campaign and, like, what issues are going to matter because it’s all coming, you know, from D.C.,” Paxton said in the recording.
In the recording, Paxton acknowledged that having little control over messaging is bound to happen in a federal race but claimed that he has “a little control over my bucket.” He also says he has little time to commit to reaching voters.
“I don’t have the ability to change anything,” he continues. “So I have to live with whatever I’ve got. So it is a challenge. … Hopefully, this polling will help us figure out. … Make sure that we are maximizing every cent so that people understand the difference between me and him.”
Republicans will have spent more than $300 million boosting Paxton as Democrats look state Rep. James Talarico to flip the Senate seat. Texas PAC, which is affiliated with Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), has spent $131 million to aid the attorney general, federal filings show.
“Campaigns don’t coordinate with super PACs and that’s obviously what AG Paxton was referring to,” Paxton adviser Nick Maddux said in a statement. “AG Paxton is thankful for the support and knows how important Texas is to keeping the majority which is why he’s on the ground every day talking to Texans, raising money, and taking his message directly to the people including with his statewide television buy that started over this past weekend.”
The audio obtained by Politico is the latest to come out of the Sept. 24 event attended by Paxton. On Wednesday, the New York Times leaked audio in which Paxton candidly responded to a question asking if President Donald Trump was a “little bit of a drag,” noting that the Republican National Committee’s recent midterm convention did his campaign no favors.
“So, to be honest with you, the numbers couldn’t get — when we did that convention, it dropped our numbers,” he said. “Everybody’s numbers dropped. Right now? Yeah. It’s not good. I wish there was something we could do to turn that around, but obviously, nothing.”
Trump endorsed Paxton in the primary and is supportive of his campaign but has admitted to some of the attorney general’s weaknesses.
At a campaign stop at a factory in Oklahoma, Trump said, “We’re going to send Ken Paxton to the United States Senate because he is, whether you love him or don’t love him, he’s a little controversial, just slightly.”
TRUMP RALLIES SUPPORT FOR KEN PAXTON IN TEXAS CAMPAIGN STOP
Trump has also been critical of Paxton’s appearance and general campaign demeanor.
Recent polls show Paxton narrowly trailing Talarico, as the two vie to replace Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX). The incumbent has not backed the Republican nominee following their bitter primary race, prompting Talarico to say he would be open to an endorsement from Cornyn.