FIRE ALARM: Trump Political Director “Steps Back”

Politico reports:

Jim Murphy, Donald Trump’s national political director, is no longer playing an active role on the campaign, according to three sources briefed on the move. “I have not resigned but for personal reasons have had to take a step back from the campaign,” Murphy said in a statement to POLITICO.

Since joining the Trump campaign in June, Murphy, a longtime party operative, has played a key role in setting up field programs in battleground states.

But the move comes at an inopportune time for the campaign, with a little over two weeks remaining until Election Day. There are widespread concerns in Republican circles that Trump’s swing state infrastructure lags far behind Hillary Clinton’s — something that could have implications for the party up and down the ballot.

Murphy is a “close ally” to former campaign manager Paul Manafort, who hit the exit two months ago amidst allegations that he has millions in financials ties to Russia.

RELATED: This Daily Beast profile of Murphy is fascinating/horrifying.