Fastrack · Trump Ramps Up Midterm Campaign With 18 Days Left

President Donald Trump is stacking up rallies in five states this week. The tour is part of a 32-day midterm blitz.

Oct. 16: Dalton, Georgia, backing Senate candidate Rep. Mike Collins.
Oct. 17: Highland Heights, Kentucky, backing Senate candidate Andy Barr.
Oct. 19–21: Wichita, Kansas; Greenville, North Carolina; Clemson, South Carolina.
70% of Americans disapprove of Trump's economic handling, a Fox News poll found.

Why it matters: Trump wants voters to treat the midterms as a vote on him. Democrats have built their ad campaigns around that idea.

$163 million in Democratic TV ads since Sept. 1 have mentioned Trump.
$740 million in GOP outside money has barely changed Senate polling averages.

The story so far

23 steps · since Oct 7

Oct 7–8
Oct 910:17 AMQuarter of Trump Voters Say GOP Should Break From Him26 sources
Oct 9–13
Oct 148:39 AMUS Inflation Rises to 3.7% in September75 sources
Oct 14
Oct 1412:37 PMTrump Rallies in Arizona, Montana on Western Swing30 sources
Oct 14–15
Oct 158:40 AMWholesale Inflation Jumps Most in Four Years as Gas Soars30 sources
Oct 153:09 PMTrump Ramps Up Midterm Campaign With 18 Days LeftYou are here
Oct 16
Oct 1612:43 PMTrump Set to Rally in Fort Myers Before Midterms3 sourcesLatest

How 13 sources split on this story

Source landscape

Factuality

High

Mixed

Low

Strong LeftLeftLean LeftCenterLean RightRightStrong Right

Political Bias

Coverage by lean% of 13 sources

13 sources · 15 articles · 39% Center coverage

Where they split: Coverage divides on whether Trump's rally blitz is a show of strength or a push against a losing climate.

Center coverage, 5 sources: The center sees an energetic Trump campaign running against weak economic polling and spending that has not delivered results.

CNBC6hWhy Trump and the GOP's billion-dollar midterm blitz isn’t working PBS NewsHour6hTrump wants the midterms to be all about him. Based on Democrats' ads, they are happy to oblige The National Desk8hVOTE: Do you think the midterms will be a referendum on President Trump's policies?Associated Press11hTrump wants the midterms to be all about himself. Judging by the ads, Democrats are happy to oblige WGAL 811hPresident Trump ramps up campaign efforts with 18 days left until the midterm elections

Left3 sources

Florida Phoenix3hTrump back on the road as analysts see more congressional races shifting in Dems’ favor Los Angeles Times6hTrump wants the midterms to be all about himself. Judging by the ads, Democrats are happy to oblige Political Wire11hTrump’s Midterm Mission Is to Turn Out Republicans

Right coverage, 5 sources: The right sees a busy president rallying Republican voters across key states as the midterms close in.

RSBNetwork6hHow to tune into President Trump’s weekend midterm rally blitz Daily Mail1dRaspy Trump jokes he'll send a lookalike robot on campaign trail as his voice strains under punishing midterm blitz The Sun2hAmericans’ wallets are driving their decision over who to back in the midterms – and that means Trump is in deep trouble The Washington Times1dTrump predicts a 'big impact' from rallies as GOP weathers tough midterm cycle Washington Examiner11hTrump taps athletes to help turn out low-propensity male voters for GOP

What’s next: Trump said Thursday he may return to Texas before Nov. 3. That would be his fourth visit in about a month.

Venues for the Wichita, Greenville and Clemson rallies remain unannounced.
Will in-person rallies move Senate races that heavy ad spending has not?
Will Republican candidates embrace Trump on the trail while avoiding him in ads?