| President Trump and lawmakers face a pivotal week ahead that will have ramifications for the Republican Senate majority, the Democratic majority in the House and the global economy. Here’s what’s on the docket: > Trump will hold two campaign rallies in Mississippi today — one in Tupelo, the birthplace of recent Medal of Freedom recipient Elvis Presley, and another in Biloxi — in an effort to pull Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R) across the finish line against Democrat Mike Espy in the final Senate contest of the 2018 midterm election cycle. If Hyde-Smith triumphs in the runoff on Tuesday, she’ll give the Republicans a 53-47 majority in the Senate next year, up from their narrow 51-49 majority. The race shouldn’t be close — Trump carried the state by nearly 19 points in 2016 and Mississippi hasn’t elected a Democratic senator in more than 35 years. But the contest between Hyde-Smith and Espy, an African-American, has reopened old racial wounds in the state. Hyde-Smith has apologized for her puzzling remarks about attending a “public hanging,” but the news media has since been digging into her past and revealing instances in which she’s posed with Confederate paraphernalia and defended aspects of the state’s racist history. CNN: Hyde-Smith pushed resolution praising Confederate soldier’s effort to “defend his homeland.” Jackson Free Press: Hyde-Smith attended all-white “Seg Academy” to avoid integration. The mounting controversies have contributed to the impression that Espy might have a shot at a monumental upset. Still, Hyde-Smith should benefit from Trump’s star wattage a day ahead of the vote. The White House is leaving nothing to chance – Vice President Pence will join Trump for the rally in Biloxi. In the Nov. 6 election, Hyde-Smith took 42 percent, Espy 41 percent and Republican Chris McDaniel 17 percent. Hyde-Smith is banking on picking up McDaniel’s portion of the vote to propel her to victory, although one recent poll found Hyde-Smith with only a 5 point lead (The New York Times). The Hill: Dems target another Senate seat in the Deep South. The New York Times: Democrats risk speaking boldly and alienating white, rural voters in the South. > House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) appears to be moving inexorably toward being the next Speaker when Democrats take the majority in January. The first test of Pelosi’s political strength will come Wednesday, when Democrats hold a closed-caucus leadership vote. There, the veteran lawmaker is expected to attain a simple majority to become the party’s nominee for Speaker. The Associated Press: Democrats shun idea of Pelosi floor fight. The Hill: Problem Solvers Dems not ready to support Pelosi. The floor vote will take place in January, when she’ll need a majority of the entire House, or 218 votes. That will be a heavier lift, although Pelosi has been cutting deals with one-time detractors and earning support from once-skeptical incoming Democrats, steadily draining the Speaker’s race of any remaining drama. The Wall Street Journal: The secret of Pelosi’s success. > Trump heads to Buenos Aires, Argentina, at the end of the week for the Group of 20 summit. There, the president will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping about the ongoing trade war between the U.S. and China. Investors will be watching closely. Wall Street is hoping Trump and Xi will come to an agreement to end the tariff tit-for-tat that has injected uncertainty, pessimism and volatility into the markets. An agreement — or a glimmer of a potential cease-fire — would be welcome news to investors amid fears of a global economic slowdown and the Federal Reserve’s expected interest rate hike next month. | 
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