Trump plans final 30-day blitz across 35 battleground races
Trump says he will spend the final month before midterms campaigning in 35 key races, focusing on Congress and Senate.
US President Donald Trump has announced an intensive campaign schedule for the final stretch before the midterm elections, vowing to personally visit 35 battleground races across the country. Speaking at an event in Washington, DC, Trump said the last 30 days of campaigning would be crucial and that he planned to make appearances in districts and states where races are competitive.
Trump indicated that his focus would be primarily on congressional and Senate contests, rather than gubernatorial races. "I love you, governors, but good luck," he said, adding that the priority was to elect and retain members of Congress and the Senate.
The President also outlined plans to use tele-town halls as a campaign tool, suggesting he could participate in seven to ten such events in a single night. He argued that these virtual gatherings are effective and allow him to reach a wide audience in a short period.
While Trump acknowledged that some candidates are leading by wide margins and may not need his help, he said he would target races that are tied or where candidates are trailing by small amounts. In some cases, he added, he could help candidates who are losing by larger margins.
Among the specific states mentioned, Trump said he would travel to Alaska and Texas. In Texas, he expressed support for Ken Paxton, praising him as one of the best attorneys general in the country despite what Trump described as a lack of polish in his public appearances.
Trump also addressed the historical trend of the president's party losing seats in midterm elections, saying his administration's record should allow Republicans to buck that pattern. "Whether you're a good president or a great president, you lose the midterms," he said. "We're going to turn that around because there's no reason for it."
The remarks come as some polls suggest headwinds for the President's party, though Trump expressed confidence that his personal involvement in the closing weeks of the campaign could make a difference in tight races.