Trump Ditches Iowa and Kansas Stops for Virtual Rallies Before Midterms
With less than five days until the November 3 election, the RNC is shifting to a 72-hour broadcast strategy to reach voters in 20 states, including key Senate races.
By Vincent Parker ·
President Donald Trump will skip his scheduled in-person stops in Iowa and Kansas this weekend. Instead, the Republican National Committee will broadcast a series of virtual appearances to voters across the country in the final hours before the midterm election.
RNC Chairman Joe Gruters confirmed the change on Thursday, describing the plan as a "72-hour sprint." He stated that the virtual format would allow Trump to reach more voters than physical stops could manage in the limited time remaining.
The broadcasts will target nearly 20 states. This list includes Michigan, Alaska, Texas, and Iowa, where competitive Senate races are currently underway. The RNC noted that additional events may be announced in the coming days.
Trump’s in-person rally in Daytona Beach, Florida, will proceed as planned on Friday. The event is located approximately 200 miles up the coast from his Mar-a-Lago resort.
The shift in strategy comes with fewer than five days until the November 3 election. These contests will determine control of the House and Senate, as well as various state and local offices. The outcome will shape the legislative agenda for the final two years of Trump’s second term.
Currently, Republicans hold narrow majorities in both chambers of Congress. In the Senate, the party holds 53 of 100 seats. In the House, Republicans hold 218 seats, with all 435 offices up for election this cycle. Forecasters, including Harvard’s ElectIt model, have given Democrats a 94 percent chance of winning control of the House, citing voter concerns over cost of living and foreign policy.
In Kansas, a state that has not sent a Democrat to the Senate since 1932, the race remains tight. Republican Senator Roger Marshall is facing Democrat Adam Hamilton, a megachurch pastor. A poll released by CNN on Thursday showed Hamilton leading with 49 percent support, compared to Marshall’s 45 percent.
The cancellation of the Kansas stop prompted a pointed exchange with reporters on the tarmac in South Carolina. After a Reuters correspondent asked if Trump was tired from travel, the president replied that he felt perfect. He then directed comments at the reporter’s weight, saying, "Put yourself in shape. You look like hell."
