Steve Schmidt
President Donald Trump speaks about coronavirus testing strategy, in the Rose Garden of the White House, Monday, Sept. 28, 2020, in Washington. Trump’s long-hidden tax returns leaked out. His first debate performance ignited a firestorm over white supremacy. He was hospitalized for COVID-19 after months of playing down the threat of a pandemic that has killed more than 200,000 Americans. And that was just this week. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
One month out, battered Trump campaign faces big challenges

By Jonathan Lemire And Steve Peoples Oct. 05, 2020 12:29 AM EDT

President Donald Trump speaks about coronavirus testing strategy, in the Rose Garden of the White House, Monday, Sept. 28, 2020, in Washington. Trump’s long-hidden tax returns leaked out. His first debate performance ignited a firestorm over white supremacy. He was hospitalized for COVID-19 after months of playing down the threat of a pandemic that has killed more than 200,000 Americans. And that was just this week. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
One month out, battered Trump campaign faces big challenges

By Jonathan Lemire And Steve Peoples Oct. 04, 2020 10:54 PM EDT

FILE - In this Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020, file photo President Donald Trump walks from Marine One to the White House in Washington as he returns from Minnesota. The Republican president has trailed Democratic challenger Joe Biden in polls for most of the year. Trump’s approval ratings barely budge, consistently ranking him as among the weakest first-term presidents in living history. And for five consecutive months, no more than roughly 3 in 10 voters have believed the nation is moving in the right direction. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)
Colliding crises shake already chaotic campaign's last month

By Steve Peoples Oct. 03, 2020 04:08 PM EDT

FILE - In this July 28, 2020, file photo, Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks at a campaign event in Wilmington, Del. Despite all the secrecy, the speculation and the fierce jockeying behind the scenes, presidential running mates rarely sway an election. But as the political world awaits the imminent announcement of Biden’s vice presidential pick, there is a real sense among his allies and adversaries that this decision may matter more in 2020. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)
Why choice of running mate matters more than usual this year

By Steve Peoples And Alexandra Jaffe Aug. 10, 2020 07:35 AM EDT

FILE - In this June 20, 2020, file photo President Donald Trump arrives on stage to speak at a campaign rally at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla. Trump is privately reassuring Republicans anxious about his deficits to Democrat Joe Biden, noting there are three months until Election Day and reminding them of the late-breaking events that propelled his 2016 comeback. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)
Clock is ticking on Trump comeback as early voting nears

By Jonathan Lemire And Zeke Miller Aug. 02, 2020 08:03 AM EDT

People look at protest posters that adorn the last remaining anti-scaling fencing surrounding a small building in Lafayette Park, Tuesday, June 16, 2020, near the White House in Washington, where protests have occurred over the death of George Floyd, a black man who was in police custody in Minneapolis. The rest of the park is open. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Lafayette Square could decide Trump's legacy — and election

By Jonathan Lemire Jun. 17, 2020 12:32 AM EDT