Senate Republicans are trying to win over Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) to back the party’s ambitious tax cut plan amid fears they could lose a couple of conservative senators.

President Trump has made it a priority to engage with Sens. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), who all have concerns about the emerging package.

But some Republicans worry Johnson and Paul could be particularly tough sells on the legislation, which makes winning over Murkowski and Collins all the more important in a vote where the GOP cannot afford more than three defections.

“It’s shortening,” one Senate Republican told The Hill about the party’s margins.

Paul has long been viewed as highly likely to vote against the eventual bill as it includes a $4 trillion debt ceiling hike. He’s made it known that is a red line for him.

But it’s Johnson who is a more acute problem for leadership.

According to two sources familiar with the meeting, Johnson on Wednesday got into an extended back-and-forth with Trump during the Senate Finance Committee’s meeting at the White House, with one of the sources going a step further........

© The Hill