A photo with Trump for $88,600? Republicans launch major midterm fundraising push

The Republican Party has launched a major fundraising drive ahead of the midterm elections.

The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday (local time) that a Republican National Committee convention fundraiser is offering donors a photo with President Donald Trump for $88,600.

A seat at a roundtable with Trump carries a price tag of $250,000 per person. The roundtable is scheduled to take place in Dallas, Texas, on Sept. 9.

Vice President JD Vance has also been given a price tag. A seat at a roundtable hosted by Vance the following day costs $75,000 per person, while a separate photo with the vice president requires an additional $35,000.

The Republican National Committee recently sent invitations to donors outlining the convention fundraising events.

The party is weighing the possibility of losing its congressional majority in the November midterm elections.

Trump has in effect acknowledged that midterm elections typically work against the party in power.

In key battleground states, Republican and Democratic candidates are already clashing sharply as the midterm campaign heats up.

Senate races in Michigan and Texas are among the most heated contests, US media reports show.

Vance went on the attack against Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed at a Republican event in Michigan, calling him "very, very evil" in a speech and warning him to "never put my wife's name in your mouth."

El-Sayed fired back in a statement, taking aim at both Vance and Trump. "Michigan doesn't need a lecture from a puppet from Ohio," he said, before adding: "What's evil is taking away health care from workers in exchange for tax cuts for billionaires. What's evil is pushing actual war and making people pay more for groceries and gas."