New York Times: “Republicans in Congress this week spent their last hours in the Capitol before the midterm elections pushing a series of meant-to-fail votes that they hoped could signal to voters that they were at least trying to address widespread concerns about the high cost of living. It was a familiar pre-election exercise made more urgent this year because those Republicans are battling stiff headwinds, including economic concerns and President Trump’s sagging approval ratings, in their battle to maintain control of Congress.”

“But they emerged with no meaningful progress on a long list of issues weighing on their constituents, leaving some wondering — if not openly doubting — whether they had done enough to persuade voters to keep them in power.”

“President Trump will join Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman to campaign in upstate New York next week,” the New York Post reports.

Reuters: “The Democratic wave may crash hardest in states Trump won by wide margins, though Republicans are also significantly underperforming in Georgia and North Carolina, where Trump won by 2 and 3 percentage points, respectively.”

“The volume of unexpectedly competitive states could scramble the final stretch of the campaign cycle as top officials assess where to spend their war chests.”

MS NOW: In red states, some of Trump’s former supporters turn on the president.

“Vice President JD Vance laid into a protester, calling him a ‘Democrat plant’ and a ‘clown’ as he was heckled multiple times during a speech in Florida,” Mediaite reports.

Said Vance: “Ladies and gentlemen, that guy was nothing more, as we know this is not a representative voter from the state of Florida, that guy is a Democrat plant. He wants to raise your taxes and release illegal aliens on the streets of Florida.”

He added: “Well, we kicked him out just like we’re gonna kick out the rest of the Democrats who want to do the exact same thing.”

“Staring down his lowest approval numbers at any point in office, President Donald Trump is hitting the road for the next month, he says, in hopes of boosting Republican turnout in the midterm elections,” the Washington Post reports.

Said Trump: “They like to say, ‘Oh, nobody wants him.’ Well, everybody that has me wins.”

New York Times: Trump plays defense in midterm tour across Republican strongholds.