14 days until the midterm elections: Where things stand

Key races checkup:

With Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, leading Democratic upstart Beto O’Rourke by just single digits in most polls, President Trump flew into Houston on Monday to help lend a hand to the man he once dubbed “Lyin’ Ted.” Their mutual embrace reflects the fact that Cruz needs Trump — and Trump needs Cruz. But will Trump’s appearance stir up more Democratic anger — or Republican enthusiasm? (Read more)

Rick Scott hopes his visibility in leading the recovery effort for Hurricane Michael will boost his Florida Senate bid against incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson, but turnout could be down in heavily Republican districts as a result of the storm. (Read more)

With the Florida Panhandle still struggling to cope with hurricane damage, the two men running to replace Scott as governor — Republican Ron DeSantis and Democrat Andrew Gillum — gave notably different answers on the subject of climate change during their first debate. (Read more)

Must-reads:

A poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation finds that a majority of voters both nationally and in battleground areas rate health care as a “very important” issue in the midterm elections, a good sign for Democrats. (Read more)

Likely 2020 Democratic presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Cory Booker have already begun campaigning for South Carolina’s black vote. (Read more)

President Trump is hoping voters will blame the caravan of Central American migrants making its way through Mexico toward the border with the U.S. on Democrats and punish them in the midterm elections. (Read More)

See the latest Midterm Mania >>>

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Scorecard sources:

Generic ballot: FiveThirtyEight

Right track/wrong track: Gallup

Trump approval: FiveThirtyEight

At-risk seats in Senate: Cook Political Report

At-risk seats in House: Cook Political Report

Read more Yahoo News midterms coverage:

• In Florida race, climate change divides Gillum and DeSantis

• Red-tide awakening: How Florida’s environmental woes could hurt Rick Scott

• ‘Outside agitators’ phrase resurfaces in Georgia governor’s race

• Hurricane Michael reshapes Florida Senate race

• In Texas Senate race, Betomania confronts Trump’s mega-MAGA rally for Cruz

• In Senate race, GOP Rep. Blackburn accuses her opponent of being a Democrat

• Photos: Honduran migrant caravan pushes north toward the U.S.

• See the rest of our midterms coverage >>>