Trump’s Closing Message Alarms Republicans in Tight Races
Republicans are worried that Trump’s closing pitch is missing the issues they believe matter most to voters, including affordability. At recent rallies, he criticized comedian Bill Maher, discussed Ohio Sen. Jon Husted’s appearance and football career, and focused on White House renovations. At a Michigan event, he repeatedly called Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed a jihadist, while spending about three and a half minutes on Husted’s football career. In Mississippi, he spoke for roughly seven minutes about White House redecorating.
Some Republicans, including people close to Trump, privately say he has lost touch with supporters. One Republican seeking reelection said, “We may have lost the plot here.” Trump’s approval rating has fallen to around 30 percent, and some candidates facing close contests, among them Maine Sen. Susan Collins and New Hampshire’s John Sununu, have reportedly asked him not to visit.
Republican strategists see Democrats as favored to win the House, while the Senate is considered a toss-up. Republicans are defending seats in Texas, Mississippi, Iowa, Ohio, South Carolina, Alaska and Kansas. The concerns include voters’ views that Trump has not delivered on promises to lower prices, end foreign wars or focus deportations on dangerous criminals.
Trump also defended a campaign ad by Vivek Ramaswamy featuring the estranged mother of Amy Acton, drawing criticism from Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine. White House spokesperson Olivia Wales said Trump remains focused and is traveling the country to promote safer communities, reduced taxes, border protection and energy independence.
Trump’s Unfocused Campaign Pitch Deepens GOP Midterm Fears
Trump’s final pitch for Republicans is drawing private alarm from within his own party: at rallies, he has dismissed affordability concerns, attacked comedian Bill Maher and devoted time to Ohio Sen. Jon Husted’s physique and football career. In Michigan, he repeatedly labeled Democrat Abdul El-Sayed a jihadist; in Mississippi, he spent roughly seven minutes discussing White House renovations.
The contrast matters to Republicans facing voters concerned about prices and the president’s promises. Some say Trump has lost touch with supporters, while one Republican seeking reelection privately warned, “We may have lost the plot here.” His approval is around 30 percent, and candidates in close races, including Maine’s Susan Collins and New Hampshire’s John Sununu, have reportedly sought to keep him away.
The stakes extend to a House Democrats are expected to win and a Senate race viewed as a toss-up. Republicans are fighting to hold seats in Texas, Mississippi, Iowa, Ohio, South Carolina, Alaska and Kansas. Voters, Republicans fear, see a president who has failed to lower prices, end foreign wars or limit deportations to dangerous criminals.
Trump’s defense of a Ramaswamy ad featuring Amy Acton’s estranged mother also drew condemnation from Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine. The White House says Trump is campaigning on safer streets, lower taxes, border security and energy dominance—but those themes compete with a closing message that Republicans themselves fear is off target.
Republicans’ Midterm Message Risks Getting Lost in Trump’s Rallies
Republicans have reason to want a sharper closing message: Trump’s recent rallies have included attacks on Bill Maher, praise for Sen. Jon Husted’s physique and football career, and extended discussion of White House renovations. In Michigan, he referred to Democrat Abdul El-Sayed as a jihadist on five occasions; in Mississippi, he spent about seven minutes on redecorating.
That does not mean the party lacks a case to make. The White House says Trump is traveling with energy to advocate for safer communities, tax cuts, a protected border and energy independence. But Republicans privately worry the president’s remarks are not making that case effectively, and some candidates in close races have asked him to stay away. Trump’s approval is around 30 percent.
The electoral challenge is real: Democrats are expected to win the House, while control of the Senate is uncertain. Republicans are defending seats in Texas, Mississippi, Iowa, Ohio, South Carolina, Alaska and Kansas. The private concern is that voters believe Trump has failed to deliver on lower prices, ending foreign wars and focusing deportations on dangerous criminals.
Trump’s defense of a Ramaswamy ad featuring Amy Acton’s estranged mother also drew criticism from Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine. A Republican seeking reelection summed up the unease by saying, “We may have lost the plot here.” For candidates trying to hold competitive seats, the question is whether Trump’s continued campaigning will help them or crowd out their own arguments.
Reported by Raw Story, MSNBC, CNN, The Washington Examiner, The Nation, The Daily Beast.
