President Trump downplayed leaked audio in which Texas GOP Senate candidate Ken Paxton told donors the Dallas convention "dropped our numbers," saying he "hadn't heard that" and praising the event. The New York Times published the clip; CBS News has not verified it. Paxton's campaign called the recording "manipulated nonsense" and cited an internal poll showing him ahead by three points. The episode intensifies scrutiny in a competitive Texas race as Trump plans a Denton visit amid storm forecasts.
Leaked Audio: Paxton Says GOP Convention 'Dropped Our Numbers' — Trump Shrugs It Off
Trump deflects on audio of Paxton calling GOP convention a drag on polls
President Donald Trump on Wednesday deflected questions about leaked audio in which his ally, Texas Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton, reportedly told donors that the recent GOP convention in Dallas hurt polling numbers.
Speaking from the Oval Office, Mr. Trump said he "hadn't heard that" and immediately praised the two-night event, calling the convention "amazing" and touting its television audience. He added that the gathering "helped greatly" for other Republicans and highlighted his record.
The New York Times published the audio clip on Wednesday; CBS News has not independently verified the recording. The excerpt was reportedly captured at a private meeting with lobbyists and donors in South Texas. When asked whether "he's a little bit of a drag," Paxton replied:
"So to be honest with you, the numbers — when we did that convention — it dropped our numbers. Everybody's numbers dropped. Right now, yeah, not good."
Paxton campaign spokesman Nick Maddux dismissed the clip as "manipulated nonsense to create a story that doesn't exist," pointing to an internal campaign poll that showed Paxton leading Democratic challenger James Talarico by three points.
Mr. Trump is scheduled to visit Denton, Texas, on Thursday for a campaign stop; it was unclear whether Paxton will join him. The president's travel coincides with forecasts for heavy rain and possible flooding across the Dallas–Fort Worth area, with storms expected to develop Wednesday into the evening.
Political Context
In September, Mr. Trump headlined an unprecedented two-night midterm convention in Dallas designed to rally Republican candidates ahead of a challenging election cycle. Paxton's standing among some Republicans has been muted after a bruising primary and runoff against incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, a major party fundraiser. Mr. Trump issued a late endorsement for Paxton, who beat Cornyn in the runoff.
From the convention stage, Mr. Trump conceded that Paxton "may not dress right," "may not talk exactly perfectly" and "may not be the best-looking guy I've ever seen," but he called Paxton "the greatest attorney general in America" and urged voters to elect him to the Senate.
Recent public polls have shown Paxton trailing James Talarico, and the Texas Democratic Party called the leaked remarks "embarrassing to the president," adding that Paxton is "loyal to nobody but himself." Talarico appeared virtually at an event Wednesday but did not address the audio clip.
When asked about the recording, Senator John Cornyn quipped "whoops!" and warned that "it's a tough environment, period," noting that Paxton has not led public polls and acknowledging the risk Democrats pose in the state this cycle.
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