Trump Trades Final Weekend Rallies for Tele-Rallies in Midterm Sprint
Two In-Person Rallies Scrapped Five Days Out
President Donald Trump on Thursday canceled weekend campaign rallies in Kansas and Iowa, just five days before the November 3 midterm elections. The Kansas rally had been scheduled for Saturday in Salina, according to four people familiar with his plans cited by The Washington Post, with the Iowa event set for Sunday. The Republican National Committee announced Thursday evening that the president would campaign by phone instead.
A 72-Hour Sprint Across Nearly 20 States
The RNC said Trump will spend a "72-hour sprint" holding rallies by phone rather than in person, a move the party said would maximize his ability to speak to voters nationwide. RNC Chairman Joe Gruters said voters across the country want to hear from Trump before Election Day and called the sprint a huge boost for the closing days. A White House official said more than 20 tele-rallies are planned before Election Day across nearly 20 states, with more possibly to come — including one Trump will call into from Air Force One while flying to Florida.
Florida Gets the Last Live Rally
Under the revised schedule, Trump's final in-person rally is Friday in Daytona Beach, Florida, about 200 miles up the coast from his Mar-a-Lago resort. No in-person events are planned for the final three days of the campaign, and the White House has not published his schedule for Monday. The contrast with 2018 is sharp: in that midterm's final 72 hours, he held seven in-person rallies.
The Official Line: Both States Are Safe
Trump said he scrapped the Kansas trip because Republican Senator Roger Marshall is "doing very well." The RNC's version is that Republicans hold a strong position in both Kansas and Iowa, freeing the president to reach more states by phone. The claim sits uneasily with the race on the ground: Marshall is locked in a tight contest with Democrat Adam Hamilton and trails in some polls.
A Health Question Draws a Furious Response
Asked by Reuters reporter Jacob Bogage whether the Kansas cancellation had anything to do with being "sick of traveling," Trump erupted. "You're sick to ask that question," he said, insisting "I feel perfect" before mocking the reporter's appearance: "Look at this guy, he's way out of shape... You are disgusting. Put yourself in shape, you look like hell." The 80-year-old denied any trouble with the travel pace, telling reporters, "You've been following me for two weeks, I feel perfect."
A Red-State Itinerary That Betrays Nerves
The Bet: Voices on the Phone Turn Into Votes
For the campaign's final days, Trump is wagering that tele-rallies can turn far-flung supporters out without him boarding a plane. Republicans fear losing control of Congress, and some candidates, including Iowa's Ashley Hinson, have at times sought distance from the president. Whether a voice on the phone converts into ballots will be decided November 3.
