Republican candidates in key battleground states are beginning to distance themselves from Donald Trump and his policies, reflecting calculated attempts to establish a degree of independence from the president.
The shift is being examined by national political correspondent Shane Goldmacher, who describes a growing number of Republicans breaking with Trump as they contest races in states where the party is seeking to maintain its position.
The decisions mark a change in approach for candidates in traditionally Republican, or “red-state”, contests, as they weigh how closely to align themselves with the president during their campaigns.
