Republicans emphasize transgender ads, putting cultural issues over voters' economic anxiety
Steve Peoples And Aaron Kessler NEW YORK – Republicans have spent an estimated $183 million on television ads focused on transgender-related attacks against Democrats in the final phase of this year’s midterm elections, betting that struggling GOP candidates can leverage the divisive cultural issue to overcome voters' concerns about President Donald Trump's leadership and the state of the economy. The spending campaign matched messaging from other Republicans on the campaign trail, led by Trump, who has played down surging gasoline prices and other rising costs, but highlighted what he described as an urgent threat to America's children from Democratic policies. The Republican emphasis on transgender issues offers a consequential test of whether a theme that had worked in past elections — and especially in deep red states — can still be potent when voters consistently say high prices…