Trump Switches to Nationwide Tele-Rallies, Cancels Iowa and Kansas Appearances

President Donald Trump announced the cancellation of weekend in-person rallies in Iowa and Kansas, replacing them with a "72-hour sprint" of telephone-based rallies. The Republican National Committee said the shift will allow the president to address voters across roughly 20 states and potentially add more locations.

The change comes after Trump held 25 rallies in October, short of an earlier target of more than 30. He traveled to South Carolina for a second visit this month amid concerns about Republican Senate candidate Darrell Graham’s race against Democrat Annie Andrews, who is urging voters to "try something new for once."

Republicans are also focusing on tight contests in Texas, Kansas, Ohio, Iowa and Alaska, while both parties monitor the Mississippi Senate race. When a Reuters reporter asked why the Kansas rally was cancelled, Trump responded, "You’re sick to ask that question."

Other campaign developments include Ohio gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy dropping an attack ad featuring his opponent’s estranged mother, and Trump calling again for Democrat Mary Peltola to face criminal prosecution over alleged recruitment of a second candidate named Dan Sullivan in Alaska. Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed is scheduled to campaign with former rival Haley Stevens in Detroit, and a commentator who likened Trump supporters to a cult was removed from a South Carolina rally venue by Secret Service agents.