BS BULLETIN:

• Leaked audio captured Texas GOP Senate nominee Ken Paxton saying Republicans’ Trump-led midterm convention hurt his numbers.
• Scott Jennings said Paxton may have believed he was simply being honest — but suggested some thoughts are better left unsaid when you need Trump’s voters, money and help.
• Jennings’ prescription was wonderfully uncomplicated: “Sometimes, keep it to yourself.”

Ken Paxton apparently forgot one of Washington’s oldest rules:

If there’s a microphone anywhere in the ZIP code, assume it’s on.

The Texas attorney general and Republican U.S. Senate nominee was caught on leaked audio telling a private gathering of donors and lobbyists that President Donald Trump’s recent midterm convention had hurt Republican candidates politically.

Someone at the event asked Paxton whether Trump was “a little bit of a drag.”

Paxton replied:

“So to be honest with you, the numbers — when we did that convention — it dropped our numbers. Everybody’s numbers dropped. Right now, yeah, not good.”

And then those very private words performed the traditional Washington miracle of becoming extremely public.

Enter Scott Jennings.

On CNN’s “NewsNight,” host Abby Phillip raised the increasingly expensive races Republicans are fighting even in states that normally would not require this much attention.

Jennings zeroed in on Paxton.

“Ken Paxton has an excellent chance to win, and he needs Donald Trump’s help.”

Jennings noted that Paxton needs Trump’s voters and Republican resources, particularly because Democrat James Talarico has been the stronger fundraiser.

Then came the part every politician should probably embroider on a throw pillow:

“Even if he thinks he was being honest, sometimes, keep it to yourself.”

There it is.

Not exactly Cicero.

But useful.

The advice carries a little extra weight because Trump’s political operation is already spending heavily to help Paxton. The Texas Tribune reported that Trump-aligned MAGA Inc. had deployed $22.2 million in advertising supporting Paxton or attacking Talarico since early September. Paxton himself has lagged Talarico substantially in fundraising and television spending.

In other words, this may not be the ideal moment to look at the guy helping pay for the cavalry and announce that his parade hurt your poll numbers.

Trump, when asked Wednesday about Paxton’s comments, did not directly engage with the substance of the leaked remarks.

MY QUICK TAKE

Scott Jennings just condensed an entire semester of Republican campaign strategy into five words:

“Sometimes, keep it to yourself.”

Beautiful.

Paxton needs Trump voters.

He needs Trump money.

Trump’s allies are spending millions helping him.

And Paxton apparently decided this was an excellent time to conduct a private performance review of Trump’s convention.

Rush used to marvel at Republicans who could locate a rake in the middle of a football field and somehow step on it.

This one even came with leaked audio.

DBS WIRE SOURCES

• Mediaite — Scott Jennings admonishes Paxton over Trump criticism
• The Texas Tribune — Paxton privately said Trump convention hurt his Senate campaign
• The Texas Tribune — Trump PAC spending heavily to support Paxton
• The Texas Tribune — Tracking spending in Paxton-Talarico Senate race
• The Texas Tribune — Republicans see warning signs for Paxton in Dallas-Fort Worth suburbs