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Leaked audio has Paxton saying Trump's Dallas convention hurt Republican numbers

The New York Times published audio of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, the Republican Senate nominee, privately saying the party's Dallas midterm convention lowered GOP numbers. His adviser called the report manipulated and cited a campaign poll showing him up three points.

9 outlets · 5L · 1C · 3R First reported Account updated

Updated (version 5). New coverage since the last version from ABC News, CBS News, IJR, The Independent. Previously: “Audio has Paxton saying Trump's Dallas convention lowered Republican numbers”.

Image: Raw Story
Image: The Hill
Image: IJR
Image: New York Post
Image: The Independent
Image: Washington Examiner
Image: CBS News
Image: ABC News

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The story, neutrally told

The New York Times reported on Wednesday that it had obtained audio of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, the Republican Senate nominee, saying privately that "everybody's numbers dropped" after the party's midterm convention. The recording was made at a private fundraiser in Washington last Thursday attended by "roughly a dozen people"; the Washington Examiner dated it Sept. 24 and said it was hosted by Republican lobbyists Susan Hirschmann and Chris Brinson. Asked whether Trump was "a little bit of a drag", Paxton said the convention in Dallas dropped the party's numbers, adding: "Right now, yeah, not good."

The Times said an attendee who opposes Paxton's campaign captured the audio and that two other attendees corroborated the conversation; IJR noted the recording does not make clear whom the "drag" question referred to. Paxton adviser Nick Maddux called the report "manipulated nonsense" and said the campaign's latest poll has Paxton up three points and numbers improving since early September. Public polling points the other way: the New York Post cited a 2.9-point Talarico lead in the RealClearPolitics average, and IJR cited a Marist poll with Talarico at 50% and Paxton at 44%.

Trump had said days after the September 9-10 convention that it "really helped" Paxton, and he is due in Denton, Texas, on Thursday. The Texas Democratic Party used the audio to attack Paxton.

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.

Left5 outlets

Framing
Presents the audio as Paxton turning on Trump and as a sign of a faltering campaign.
Emphasis
Paxton's private criticism, fundraising risk, Trump's jibes at Paxton and the convention's problems.
Leaves out or plays down
Give little weight to the campaign's poll claim beyond quoting Maddux.
Charged language
“turns on Trump”“trashing Trump’s convention”“bombshell report”
For example
“privately badmouthed President Donald Trump’s midterm convention” — Raw Story
“Texas Senate candidate turns on Trump and blames him for faltering campaign” — The Independent
“according to audio obtained by The Times” — The New York Times

Centre1 outlet

Framing
Straight report led by Paxton's quote that the convention hurt him politically.
Emphasis
Paxton's own words.
Leaves out or plays down
Lede gives no campaign response or polling context.
For example
“convention in Dallas hurt him politically” — The Hill

Right3 outlets

Framing
Reports the NYT audio as a report, pairing it with the campaign's rebuttal and polling context.
Emphasis
Maddux's denial, the poll numbers and Trump's upcoming Texas visit; the Examiner adds the Democratic attack.
Leaves out or plays down
Do not dwell on Trump's jibes at Paxton or the convention's problems.
Charged language
“leaked audio”“admitted”
For example
“Ken Paxton admitted ‘everybody’s numbers dropped’ after GOP midterm convention: report” — New York Post
“his campaign cites an internal poll with him up three” — IJR
“Based on the leaked audio, the candidate doesn’t agree.” — Washington Examiner