Republicans say Democrats who are fighting to keep tight pandemic lockdowns are cratering the economy. The GOP strategy is to prevent President Trump from shouldering the blame if there is no turnaround before Election Day.

Concern has soared within the previously confident Republican establishment about Trump’s prospects against Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee. Fears are tracking unemployment, which has skyrocketed from 3.5% to 14.7% in just six weeks. It is likely to go higher this month. Democrats, trying to frame the debate in the run-up to voting, talk of a “Trump depression” and blame the free fall on the president’s mishandling of the pandemic.