Michigan U.S. Senate candidate John James (R) told the Detroit News that his stance on President Trump hadn’t changed and alleged someone leaked audio of him detailing disagreements with the president to “drive a wedge.”

Politico said James made the comments during a recent video conference with black leaders when he was asked about issues on which he disagreed with Trump, who has backed his campaign.

Said James: “Plenty, plenty of issues. Everything from cutting Great Lakes funding to ‘shithole countries’ to speaking ill of the dead.”

A new Public Policy Polling survey in Michigan finds Sen. Gary Peters (D) leading John James (R) in the U.S. Senate race, 45% to 38%.

A new Glangariff Group poll in Michigan finds Sen. Gary Peters (D) with a narrow lead over challenger John James (R), 44% to 40%.

A new 6 News poll in Michigan finds Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) in a dead heat with challenger John James (R), 39% to 39%.

This is the second poll in a week to show the race essentially a toss up.

A new Marketing Resource Group poll shows Sen. Gary Peters (D) holds a small lead over challenger John James (R) by a slim 43 percent to 40 percent margin.

“Michigan military veteran and businessman John James (R) is hoping the second time’s a charm in a run for U.S. Senate, this time challenging Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) in 2020,” the Detroit News reports.

“His announcement comes several months after James lost to Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) in November.”

A new Emerson College poll in Michigan finds Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) has a 9 point lead over challenger John James (R) with a little more than a week left until Election Day, 52% to 43% among likely voters.

A new Mitchell Research poll in Michigan finds Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) with a 9-point lead over challenger John James (R) in the U.S. Senate race, 51% to 42%.

Said pollster Steve Mitchell: “We are seeing the impact of the brutal battle over Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation in this polling. In our mid-September poll, we had Stabenow leading James by 13%.”

Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) is running for re-election in 2018, and will drop his plans to run for Senate, the Washington Examiner reports.

“The surprise move is a boost for House Republicans, who have endured a string of retirements as many fear being swept out of office next year in a midterm wave, and some feel alienated in a party that is tilting toward President Trump’s populism. Upton’s decision stems a tide of recent bad news for the party, especially after an off-year wipeout in suburban strongholds from Virginia to New York signaled trouble ahead.”

“I will say this: he will be very busy with his concert tour and he’s got a big primary so I will wait to see who comes out of the primary.”

— Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), quoted by WZZM, sounding somewhat skeptical about Kid Rock’s (R) U.S. Senate bid.