There were numerous reports overnight of the panic gripping GOP candidates and donors as the meltdown of the Romney campaign becomes recognized.
I'll link to a few articles here, will update.
Roll Call: Mitt Romney's Incredible Shrinking Coattails
Downticket GOP candidates are distancing themselves from Romney hoping to save themselves!
But as polls show President Barack Obama's lead strengthening in key states, GOP campaigns cannot count on a strong Romney performance to put them over the top. Republicans seeking re-election increasingly view their races in a vacuum, or at least they hope that's the case.
"I just don't think that any of our Members are tied to Romney at all," said a top House GOP aide who requested anonymity to speak freely. "They just don't connect the person to Romney, and that's good for us."
Indications that Romney is having a hard time raising money! He has little presence on TV air, spends all his time fundraising, has exaggerated his campaign warchest.
Roll Call: Lindsey Graham: Mitt Romney Should Stop Fundraising and Get Out There
Romney Campaign Cautious With Ad Budget, Even in Key States
Despite what appears to be a plump bank account and an in-house production studio that cranks out multiple commercials a day, Mr. Romney’s campaign has been tightfisted with its advertising budget, leaving him at a disadvantage in several crucial states as President Obama blankets them with ads.
One major reason appears to be that Mr. Romney’s campaign finances have been significantly less robust than recent headlines would suggest. Much of the more than $300 million the campaign reported raising this summer is earmarked for the Republican National Committee, state Republican organizations and Congressional races, limiting the money Mr. Romney’s own campaign has to spend.
The Hill: GOP frets Romney is blowing race
Signs that the SuperPACs are beginning to abandon Romney and pour money into downticket races!
Roll Call: New England Republicans, More Democrats Decry Mitt Romney’s Comments
In a fundraising email, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee alleged that American Crossroads, a conservative third-party group advised by Karl Rove, shifted cash from the presidential race in light of the Romney campaign’s missteps.
“Rove isn’t stupid,” a DCCC fundraising email read. “He sees Romney’s floundering campaign. Now, he’s shifting cash into House races so Republicans will still have one card to play against President Obama.”
A Crossroads spokesman said the group had not reallocated any funds to House races recently.
6:45 AM PT: Romney trying to figure out how to survive losses in Ohio and Virginia!
RCP: How Romney Could Survive a Loss in Ohio or Virginia