New Delhi, Oct. 7 -- Texas Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton privately acknowledged that the Iran war and rising fuel prices are creating difficulties for his campaign, telling donors and lobbyists that several factors affecting the race were beyond his control, according to Axios.

Paxton, Texas attorney general and a close ally of President Donald Trump, as per the report, made the remarks during a closed-door fundraiser in Washington, DC, last month.

Axios said it has obtained an audio recording of the meeting from an attendee who opposed Paxton and was granted anonymity because the event was private.

Asked what issues were weighing on his campaign, Paxton said the problem was not tariffs but the war and rising gasoline and diesel...