The benefits — and perils — of expanding the map: From the Politics Desk

Welcome to From the Politics Desk, a daily newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics team’s latest reporting and analysis from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail.

In today’s edition, Sahil Kapur digs into the expectations game for the Senate with a week to go before the election. Plus, Megan Brand explores how presidential hopefuls are using the midterms as a 2028 testing ground.

Days after Democrats’ top Senate super PAC made an unexpected investment of $1.3 million in ruby red Mississippi, the Republican counterpart matched with a $1.4 million ad campaign of its own, attacking Democratic challenger Scott Colom.

The Mississippi race should be nowhere close to being competitive. The last Democrat the state sent to the Senate was a longtime segregationist in 1982. And two years ago, Republicans won Mississippi at the presidential and Senate level by more than 20 points.

And yet, Democrats’ late play to boost Colom, a Black lawyer and prosecutor, has prompted Republicans to put resources into protecting the state. President Donald Trump is even set to host a rally tonight in Mississippi, just eight days before the election, to boost GOP Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith.

In a blue-leaning environment where…

Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/health