Is the GOP ready for the midterms under Trump?

Veteran Republicans are fretting that their party is ill-prepared for a brutal midterm campaign that will be largely dictated by President Trump.

After years of running against former President Barack Obama, and with so many Republicans in Congress having been elected since the GOP wave elections of 2010 and 2014, few have experience in withstanding the sort of strong headwinds generated by full control of government and an unpopular president of their own party.

Many Republicans appear unconvinced that major Democratic gains are even possible this November. Despite polls showing danger ahead, they are comforting themselves with the memory of Trump’s unlikely victory, in defiance of long political odds and expert prognosticators.

“There’s probably is a little bit of optimism that, we’re not going to lose the majority — that it’s going to be bad but we won’t lose,” a House Republican with deep political experience told the Washington Examiner Thursday, on condition of anonymity in order to speak candidly. “I think it’s very likely we’ll lose the majority if we don’t change some factors. We’ve got to change the landscape or we’re going to lose the majority for sure.”

Sen. John Thune of South Dakota is encouraged by the initial precautions his party is taking to protect its majorities in Congress. The third-ranking Senate Republican is optimistic that a booming economy and recently passed tax overhaul that could cut taxes for millions of voters gives the GOP a strong opportunity to hold the line.