Trump books himself for two nights of his midterm convention; his own Senate leader books zero.

…(cont) What's also on the record is who isn't walking onto that stage at all. Senate Majority Leader John Thune isn't speaking either night. Unlike his House counterpart, he's absent from the RNC's own keynote list. That's not a snub. That's — fine, that's a snub.

It doesn't stand alone. Susan Collins, according to a source familiar with her plans, won't be at the convention either, in keeping with what that source described as her longstanding practice of skipping these events. Other Republicans in competitive races are reportedly planning to skip the gathering as well. When the Senate's top Republican and its own front-line candidates start finding reasons not to attend their party's marquee event, the empty seats aren't a ticketing problem.

Earlier this week — three days before Thune's absence was confirmed — Vice President Vance was asked directly whether he'd endorse Thune for another term as Senate leader if Republicans hold the chamber. "It's not my business," Vance said. Maybe it isn't. The timing still says plenty the quote doesn't.

Byron York, watching from inside the Examiner, called the president's approval rating heading into the midterms "not good." He didn't attach a figure to it — none of the wire copy does — but he didn't need to. He's the one who said plainly that a bad number here has, historically, cost the president's party seats in the fall.

So: a stage built for two nights, a leadership seat left empty on purpose, and an approval rating widely described but not quantified anywhere in the reporting so far. The push to fill the room continues. That part, at least, isn't in dispute.