每一次防守性的出行都让共和党失去了在传统竞争州让民主党处于劣势的机会。
Each trip to play defense robs the GOP of a chance to put Democrats on the back foot in states that are traditionally competitive.
唐纳德·特朗普总统打算在未来30天为共和党人竞选，其中许多人在总统两年前轻松拿下的州中处于劣势。
President Donald Trump intends to spend the next 30 days campaigning for Republicans, many of whom are underwater in states the president easily carried two years ago.
包括阿拉巴马州、阿拉斯加州、爱荷华州、俄亥俄州和得克萨斯州在内的保守派堡垒需要特朗普的明星影响力，总统的访问可能会说服他最坚定的一些支持者前往投票站。但每一次在红色据点进行防守性出行，都让共和党失去了在传统竞争州让民主党处于劣势的机会。
Bastions of conservatism — including Alabama, Alaska, Iowa, Ohio and Texas — need Trump’s star power, and a visit by the president could persuade some of his most die-hard supporters to turn out to the polls. But each trip to play defense in red strongholds robs the GOP of a chance to put Democrats on the back foot in states that are traditionally competitive.
特朗普即将进行的出行——包括本周前往阿拉巴马州、俄克拉荷马州和俄亥俄州——凸显了共和党捐助者和操盘手数月来一直担心的问题：即使有杰利蝾螈式的众议院选区划分和巨额现金优势，也不足以从民主党手中保住众议院或参议院。
Trump’s upcoming travel — including to Alabama, Oklahoma and Ohio this week — puts a focus on what Republican donors and operatives have feared for months: that even a gerrymandered House map and whopping cash advantage won’t be enough to save the House or Senate from Democrats.
“问题是现在到处都是火，”一位共和党捐助者说，与本文中的其他人一样，他获准匿名坦率地谈论该党的前景。
“The problem is that the fires are everywhere right now,” said one GOP donor, who like others in this story was granted anonymity to speak candidly about the party’s prospects.