The US President leaves no doubt: he wants to help his Republicans win the important congressional elections. Even though his poll numbers are in the basement, he is now traveling around the country.
A good month before the important midterms, Trump is touring the country. Photo: Alex Brandon/AP/dpa
Denton. A good month before the important parliamentary elections, US President Donald Trump launched a campaign offensive and, at least in one respect, also expressed self-critical tones. During a speech to employees of a truck manufacturer in Denton, Texas, he made it clear that he seemed to be aware of his long-term poor popularity ratings.
As usual, he praised his own politics in the highest tones. At the same time, he also emphasized that public relations work was going poorly. The US President said they were doing “phenomenal work” but might not be selling it well.
Trump had already emphasized to reporters that he would travel around the country and campaign in the remaining weeks before the so-called midterms. His appearance in Denton marked the start of this, and Trump also traveled to the US state of Oklahoma that same evening (local time). This Friday we continue to Alabama and on Saturday to Ohio.
“I am there with all my heart - more than ever,” emphasized Trump in Texas. “I think we will win.”
What's at stake for Trump in the midterms
On November 3rd, Americans will re-elect around a third of the senators and the entire House of Representatives in the midterm elections. Trump's Republicans currently hold a slim majority in both chambers of Congress. However, according to surveys, his politics have long been unpopular in his own country, among other things following the fuel price increases as a result of the Iran war.
The Democrats can hope to at least take back the House of Representatives. If they succeed, they could, among other things, block Trump's legislative initiatives and initiate investigations.
During his second campaign appearance on Thursday (local time) in Durant, Oklahoma, the US President also referred to another aspect that could threaten him in such a case. If Republicans didn't win, Democrats would impeach him, he warned.
A simple majority in the House of Representatives is sufficient for such a step. In his first term in office, Trump went down in history as the first US president to have two impeachment proceedings initiated in Parliament during his time in office.
“Please act as if I were a candidate”
To mobilize his supporters, Trump also repeated a phrase in Oklahoma that he had previously made a core element of his midterms message: "Please act like I'm running." If his name wasn't on the ballot, people wouldn't vote in such large numbers, he explained his calculation.
Despite his poor popularity ratings, the US President continues to rely on his own charisma. At the Republican party conference in Dallas a few weeks ago, he had repeatedly declared the midterm elections to be a vote about himself.
At that time he also caused a stir with an unusual election promise. In Durant, he also renewed this: Every adult US citizen should receive $5,000 if the Republicans maintain their majorities in both chambers. However, the proposal is neither politically nor financially realistic. It would cost over $1 trillion, about as much as the entire U.S. defense budget.
Former Republican stronghold Texas is shaking
In both Texas and Oklahoma, Trump repeatedly spoke about one person: the Republican Ken Paxton. The candidate supported by the US President wants to enter the Senate in Texas - but he is by no means certain of victory in the former Republican stronghold. The Democrats are hoping to take the seat from the Republicans with their candidate James Talarico.
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Trump also made it clear in Denton that there is a lot at stake for his party there: “We need Ken so badly, and that’s why I’m here.” If his opponent Talarico wins the race, he would be the first Democratic senator from Texas in more than three decades.
But this is by no means the only Senate race where things could get tight for the Republicans. “We’re worried about Michigan,” Trump said, citing another example of a battleground state. “We have really great candidates.” But you would have some close races. “I don’t know what’s going on,” Trump said.
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