Trump sets off on midterm blitz – are his trademark rallies a liability for Republicans?

President Donald Trump has begun a 32-day push of campaign rallies, planning five to seven a week, to help Republicans hold their slim congressional majorities in next month's midterm elections. Whether the appearances help or hurt his party is now an open question. Weather grounded Air Force One in Texas on Thursday, so his motorcade covered 85 miles to reach an Oklahoma event for gubernatorial candidate Mike Mazzei, held in Durant, according to The Guardian.

His standing with voters is weak. Surveys from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research show just 17% of U.S. adults endorse his work on living costs, 26% his economic stewardship, and about three in 10 his job performance overall. Voters are also unhappy about the Iran war and immigration crackdowns. A major Republican political action committee is reportedly shifting money away from North Carolina and toward Kansas.

Strategist Steve Schmidt argues the rallies drag down every Republican on the ballot. Supporter Blake Marnell, who attended in Oklahoma, rejects that view and says the events are meant to drive turnout. Trump himself told the crowd that Republicans are worried about Michigan, Texas and a few other states.

Summarized by PolitiKool from The Guardian’s reporting. Read the full story at The Guardian →