Trump Clings to Rallies as GOP Candidates Distance Themselves Ahead of Midterms
Select a version of the text written from a presumed ideological perspective. This is not the original text, but a hypothetical version — how someone with that viewpoint might have phrased it. Tapping the current version again will return to the original or select cleaned version.
President Donald Trump boasts that his rallies are energizing the Republican Party, but many GOP candidates in competitive races are steering clear of his divisive events.
President Donald Trump told reporters in Baltimore that his series of rallies is supposedly raising Republican enthusiasm and helping to flip races ahead of the November midterm elections. He posted on social media, as he often does, that rally crowds were "unbelievable" and that the events were "saving the Republican Party, again," clinging to the narrative that he alone can rescue his party.
Despite the president’s self-congratulatory statements, a number of Republican candidates in key contests have notably avoided his recent midterm convention or subsequent rallies. Governor Greg Abbott of Texas cited scheduling conflicts for missing a Trump rally, while Senate candidate Ken Paxton’s campaign has not been linked to recent Trump appearances. Senators and House members in states such as Maine, Iowa, and Michigan have expressed uncertainty about Trump’s presence at upcoming events, signaling discomfort with his toxic brand.
Trump reiterated his intention to travel to about 35 competitive districts, a promise he made in early September, but his itinerary to date has focused on states like Alabama, Oklahoma, and New York—hardly the battlegrounds where the GOP is struggling. Polling data released after the convention showed a shift toward Democrats on the generic ballot, undermining Trump’s claims of momentum.
When asked about campaigning in specific states, Trump vaguely indicated he might visit Maine and confirmed plans for a rally in Iowa, urging local candidates to join him. GOP Senator Susan Collins previously said she did not expect Trump to travel to Maine, reflecting the reluctance of moderate Republicans to be associated with his polarizing politics.
The president’s emphasis on rally attendance comes as internal GOP dynamics appear to shift, with some candidates wisely distancing themselves from Trump’s brand of campaigning, which has proven divisive and damaging to the party’s broader appeal.