Trump and Clinton Rally as Early Voting Outpaces 2022
Trump rallied in Daytona Beach while Clinton campaigned in Tupelo for Democratic Senate candidate Scott Colom. Both cast the approaching midterms as consequential. Trump called them the most important midterm elections, while Clinton urged Mississippians to vote for Colom, who faces a difficult race in the Republican-leaning state.
The Daytona Beach venue, Ocean Center, can hold 9,300 people, and a local newspaper described the rally as drawing a capacity crowd of more than 9,000. Clinton’s Tupelo event drew roughly 400 people, about the capacity of its venue. The two campaigns were among a final push to mobilize voters before Election Day.
Nearly 10 million more people had voted early than at the same point before the 2022 midterms, an analysis of voting data found. In Texas, more than 6.3 million people had cast ballots by Wednesday, compared with 4.2 million at that point in 2022. Early voting was also up more than 30% in Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Michigan and North Carolina, and 83% in South Carolina. Both parties hope the higher turnout will benefit them.
The election will determine whether Trump has a Republican-controlled Congress for the final two years of his term or faces Democratic opposition. Republicans have expressed concern about turnout amid voter dissatisfaction with Trump and high costs, while Democrats have emphasized affordability in their campaigns.
In Alaska, the U.S. attorney confirmed a criminal investigation into a candidate named Dan J. Sullivan, who is running against Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan. The Justice Department said it wants to examine ballots ranking the candidate to assess voter confusion. Democratic candidate Mary Peltola has denied knowing about efforts to recruit him. In Michigan, Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed and Rep. Haley Stevens again clashed publicly, despite plans for Stevens to campaign with him on Sunday.
Voters Turn Out Early as Democrats Make Final Push Against Trump
With nearly 10 million more ballots cast early than at the same point in the 2022 midterms, voters are already showing up for an election that will determine whether Trump faces a Democratic Congress during his final two years in office. Democrats are making affordability a central issue as high costs and dissatisfaction with Trump weigh on the political landscape.
Clinton campaigned in Tupelo for Senate candidate Scott Colom, urging voters to put Mississippi first. Colom focused on grocery prices and promises of lower costs. Trump, meanwhile, rallied in Daytona Beach and called the midterms the most important ever. The two appearances underscored the parties’ competing efforts to mobilize voters before Election Day.
Early voting is up more than 30% in Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Michigan and North Carolina, and has risen 83% in South Carolina. Texas had recorded more than 6.3 million early votes by Wednesday, up from 4.2 million at the same point in 2022. Both parties hope the surge will help them, but Republicans have voiced concern about turnout amid dissatisfaction with Trump and high costs.
The contest is also marked by an investigation in Alaska involving a candidate named Dan J. Sullivan, who is running against Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan. The Justice Department wants to examine ballots ranking the candidate for evidence of voter confusion. Mary Peltola, the Democratic Senate candidate, says she knew nothing about efforts to recruit him.
In Michigan, Rep. Haley Stevens renewed criticism of Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed, including over an advertisement tying U.S. support for Israel to grocery prices and his past rhetoric. El-Sayed said the party should focus on defeating Republican Mike Rogers. Democrats face a choice between addressing those disputes and concentrating on the race ahead.
Trump Rallies as Early Voting Surges and Democrats Fight Among Themselves
Trump took his midterm message to Daytona Beach, calling the election the most important midterms ever, as early voting surged and control of Congress hung in the balance. A local newspaper described his rally as a capacity crowd of more than 9,000 at the 9,300-seat Ocean Center. The campaign appearances put turnout, not just the polls, at the center of the final days.
Nearly 10 million more people had voted early than at the same point in 2022. The increases include more than 30% in Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Michigan and North Carolina, and 83% in South Carolina. Both parties hope the added voting favors them. Republicans have voiced concern that dissatisfaction with Trump and high costs could keep their voters home, while Democrats have made affordability a campaign theme.
Former President Bill Clinton campaigned in Tupelo for Democrat Scott Colom, who is seeking a Senate seat in Mississippi. The rally drew roughly 400 people, about the venue’s capacity. Colom spoke about grocery prices and promised costs, while Clinton urged voters to support him. Democrats are also contending with renewed divisions in Michigan: Rep. Haley Stevens criticized nominee Abdul El-Sayed, and he said the focus should be defeating Republican Mike Rogers.
An Alaska investigation adds another contested issue to the campaign. The U.S. attorney confirmed a criminal probe involving Dan J. Sullivan, a candidate with the same name as Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan. The Justice Department wants to examine ballots ranking the candidate to assess voter confusion. Democrat Mary Peltola has denied knowing about efforts to recruit him.
The midterms will determine whether Trump can work with a Republican Congress for the final two years of his term or face Democratic opposition. The competing turnout hopes and the parties’ battles over costs and control will be tested on Election Day.
Reported by Local 10 Miami, Newsweek.
