A Referendum on Donald Trump 

To what extent did Republican primary candidates sought to align with Trump?  Trump endorsed or made statements of support on behalf of a number of candidates in the primaries (+), and those candidates used clips, imagery and mentions of Trump in their ads and internet presences.  Other candidates who were not backed by Trump likewise highlighted their support for him.  One of the more dramatic demonstrations of support for Trump came from Rep. Todd Rokita in his unsuccessful primary campaign for U.S. Senate in Indiana; although Trump did not endorse Rokita, for one ad Rokita donned a MAGA hat.  Running in the Republican primary for governor of Florida, Rep. Ron DeSantis ran an ad, narrated by his wife, showing him playing with his young children—building a wall with daughter Madison, reading to four-month old Mason from one of Trump's books, and teaching Madison to read from a "Make America Great Again" sign; the ad closes on Mason in his crib a red MAGA jumper.  In other Republican primary ads, candidates accused their opponents of not being sufficently pro-Trump. 

	candidates touting support for Trump...
	Kelli Ward for Senate (AZ) "Pretender" Jan. 12, 2018 Tim Burchett for Congress (TN-2) ad July 13, 2018	Raúl Labrador for Governor (ID)

primary candidates highlight Trump endorsement...
+	John Cox for Governor (CA) facebook video, late May 2018 Lou Barletta for Senate (PA) "The Lottery Winner" May 1, 2018 Renacci for Ohio "Jim Renacci: Ohio First" May 2, 2018

In the fall Trump has redoubled his efforts, for example holding 15 rallies in the month of October (+) to help bring his favored candidates over the finish line on Nov. 6.