Trump Adds Iowa, Kansas Rallies
The President reversed cancellations to campaign in two battleground states where early voting is up 30 percent.
By Lucia Orlov ·
President Donald Trump will hold campaign rallies in Iowa and Kansas this Sunday, reversing earlier plans to cancel both events.
The two stops are back-to-back appearances scheduled for Sunday. A person familiar with the plans said the rallies had previously been canceled but have now been rescheduled. The Iowa venue changed from Dubuque to Cedar Rapids. The Kansas rally remains in Salina.
Early voting is outpacing the 2022 midterm cycle by nearly 10 million ballots as of five days before Election Day. In Iowa and Kansas, early voting has increased by roughly 30 percent compared to the same point four years ago. These states feature competitive Senate races that could determine the balance of power in Congress.
Trump initially canceled the weekend events to conduct a series of phone rallies, a strategy the Republican National Committee called a 72-hour sprint. The party originally suggested the President would do telerallies to reach more voters. The new schedule accommodates these telerallies while keeping the in-person stops. Trump visited both states earlier this month to support Republican candidates.
On Thursday, Trump defended the original cancellation by saying he did not feel he had to go to Kansas because Senator Roger Marshall is performing well. He told a reporter, “I don’t feel I have to go to Kansas.” He added that he felt perfect. The Kansas race pits Marshall against Democrat Adam Hamilton. Trump called Hamilton a radical who has caused turmoil with the church.
The surge in early voting is driven by concerns over affordability and the President’s unpopularity. In Texas, more than 6.3 million voters cast ballots early as of Wednesday, a 50 percent increase over the same period in 2022. South Carolina, which is choosing a successor to the late Senator Lindsey Graham, has seen early voting rise by 83 percent.
Democrats and Republicans both expect the high turnout to benefit their side. Republicans have expressed concern that dissatisfaction with high costs could suppress their voter turnout. The election has centered on affordability issues and the President’s approval ratings.
Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune
