In this ever-nationalized midterm environment, swing-district Republicans brace for a storm

The true measure of a sailor is how they weather a storm, and swing district Republicans can make out the threatening clouds fast approaching over the horizon.Detractors have dubbed the GOP’s first-ever midterm convention a celebratory “Trump-a-palooza.” It’s a charge that its organizers didn’t dodge on Wednesday night, when the president took the stage in an arena adorned with photographs of him to deliver an address in which he offered Americans a $5,000 “Trump Dividend” in exchange for returning Republican majorities to Congress.But its office-holding attendees are clear-eyed about the challenge ahead.Rep.Mike Lawler (R-NY) is seeking a third term in the Empire State’s 17th Congressional District, a true “toss-up” according to the Cook Political Report.Two years ago, he defeated his Democratic opponent by more than five points even as Kamala Harris eked out a win among his constituents.But that was in a year that saw Trump returned to the White House and Republicans prevail up and down the ballot.The state of play, as of this week, is that Democrats boast a nearly seven-point advantage in the generic ballot, and are favored in almost every competitive Senate race.Lawler is well aware of the daunting environment he’ll have to navigate.“Midterm elections obviously tend to favor the party out of power because anger is a great motivator, and we’ve seen the Democratic base is very angry,” Lawler told The Post.The other complicating factor? While Lawler is many of his Democratic colleagues’ favorite Republican, Minority Leaders Jeffries and Schumer share none of that same affinity for him — quite the opposite, in fact.Which means leadership-controlled campaign arms like the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and House Majority PAC are poised to throw the kitchen sink at him.But while both the president and Democrats are determined to turn November into a referendum on Trump, the congressman is determined to run his own race.“...