Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) was already facing a perilous week ahead: another attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act, a critical special election in Alabama and a first glimpse of the framework for a massive tax cut. All of it leaves McConnell, who a few days ago was poised to score his best in the Trump era, desperately trying to mitigate his losses. McConnell’s Washington operation fully backed Strange, and Trump was convinced to support him as well, even flying to Huntsville, Ala., on Friday to appear onstage with the senator ahead of Tuesday’s election. That issue had been the long-planned focus for next week’s agenda until the latest repeal effort crowded out everything else. The controversial former state judge is challenging Strange by labeling him a McConnell crony — a member of an establishment that continues to flounder in Washington.

Source: Washington Post September 23, 2017 12:11 UTC