GOP Donors Place Their Bets on Down-Ballot Races

Trump's poll numbers have plummeted following a series of political missteps since his nominating convention in July

As Donald Trump's presidential campaign continues to struggle, many top Republican donors are putting their resources into Senate and House races in the hopes of keeping control of Congress amid an increasingly difficult political environment for the party.

Andrew Weinstein, a former director of communications for Bob Dole and press aide to House Speaker Newt Gingrich, began circulating this week a draft letter signed by at least 70 Republicans urging RNC Chairman Reince Priebus to cut its losses and redirect resources to saving Republican majorities.

American Crossroads, a conservative super PAC that spent more than $130 million in the 2012 election, has not committed to spending money to help Trump get elected because donors aren't willing to get involved in that effort, a Republican with knowledge of the group's strategy told NBC News.

"We're focused on the Senate for now," Ian Prior, the spokesperson for Crossroads and two super PACs focused on House and Senate races, said.

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