McCaskill in hot seat at White House as Trump courts swing state Democrats on taxes

WASHINGTON -- Claire McCaskill thinks she knows why she sat right next to President Donald Trump at the White House. Of the Democrats invited to talk taxes in the West Wing on Wednesday, Trump won her state by the widest margin.

Five Senate Democrats, all facing tough re-election bids next year and representing states Trump won in November, got the invitations to gather around the president. Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, the top Democrat on the tax-writing Senate Finance Committee was the only other Democrat at the meeting.

The up-close-and-personal seating vividly illustrated the risks red-state Democrats such McCaskill faces next year. As the White House pressures them to back a Republican-authored tax plan, the vulnerable Democrats signaled they’re willing to do business with the administration, but not on terms that alienates their party faithful.

Ten Democrats are up for re-election in states Trump won last year. Visiting the White House Wednesday were McCaskill and Democratic Senate colleagues Sherrod Brown of Ohio, Bill Nelson of Florida, Bob Casey of Pennsylvania and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan. Earlier this week, Trump daughter Ivanka and husband Jared Kushner hosted McCaskill, along with Democratic Sens. Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota and Joe Manchin of West Virginia.

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