Trump, in North Carolina, says Republicans will defy midterm odds
GREENVILLE, North Carolina, Oct 20 -
asserted
Republicans → say → odds
With his approval rating at record lows, President Donald Trump attempted to defy political gravity in a pep rally in North Carolina on Tuesday, urging voters to support his favored Senate candidate in a race some Republican groups have already given up on.
asserted
groups → attempt → race
Trump has embarked on a campaign blitz ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, traveling more than 29,000 miles (46,671 km) since late September to boost Republican candidates — and his second stop in North Carolina in as many months was a signal of how much is at stake in this southern state.
asserted
much → embark → state
Polls show former Democratic Governor Roy Cooper with a commanding lead over Republican Michael Whatley, a former senior party official, in a Senate race that could help decide the balance of power in Washington.
uncertain
that → show → Washington
The two are running to fill the seat of retiring Republican Thom Tillis, a one-time Trump ally, who split with the president over his landmark tax bill and defense policy.
asserted
who → run → bill
Tillis told Politico in a Tuesday interview that his fellow Republicans were headed toward “a train wreck” and a "whoop ass" in November.
asserted
Republicans → tell → November
But Trump, speaking in the eastern city of Greenville on Tuesday night, predicted Whatley would prove the doubters wrong.
asserted
doubters → speak → night
"I think you're gonna see some amazing results," he told hundreds of supporters who gathered on the grounds of the local airport.
asserted
who → think → airport
"They never poll us right.
asserted
They → poll → us
We have more spirit."
asserted
We → have → spirit
'WE NEED YOU'
Trump won North Carolina in each of his three presidential runs, but Democrats are banking on a breakthrough performance this year, with polls showing a clear majority of Americans dissatisfied with rising prices and the war in Iran.
The president's approval rating has fallen to 31%, according to the latest Reuters/Ipsos survey, the lowest mark at any point during his two terms in office.
uncertain
rating → need → office
In early voting in North Carolina, Democrats have cast more ballots than Republicans by a two-to-one margin, according to state data.
uncertain
Democrats → cast → data
Republican candidates on Tuesday night implored voters to turn out early.
asserted
candidates → implore → voters
"This is a Republican majority district," said Laurie Buckhout, a Trump-backed candidate running for a congressional seat in a mostly rural eastern district.
asserted
Buckhout → say → district
“We have the momentum.
asserted
We → have → momentum
We have the message.
asserted
We → have → message
Now we need you."
Republicans hold 10 of the state's 14 House seats, but a handful of districts are viewed as battlegrounds this cycle — and have attracted significant spending.
Buckhout's race against Democratic Representative Don Davis has drawn $21 million in outside money since September 1, making it the third most expensive contest in the country, according to a Reuters analysis of campaign filings.
uncertain
it → need → filings
In the state's mountainous west, outside groups have spent $14.5 million on the race between Democrat Jamie Ager and Republican Jennifer Balkcom.
asserted
groups → spend → Ager
Whatley, by contrast, has largely been abandoned by the national party apparatus.
asserted
Whatley → abandon → apparatus
The Senate Leadership Fund, the primary PAC supporting Republican candidates for the upper chamber, cut off spending in North Carolina earlier this month as Cooper posted double-digit leads in poll after poll.
asserted
Cooper → support → poll
'TIGHTEN THAT SHIP UP'
Trump's popularity has cratered since he ordered military strikes on Iran in February alongside US ally Israel, triggering a surge in gasoline and diesel prices.
asserted
he → tighten → prices
Some 68% of Americans disapprove of Trump's handling of the economy, Reuters/Ipsos has found, including 37% of self-identified Republicans.
asserted
Ipsos → disapprove → Republicans
Taylor Smith, who described herself as a housewife in Greenville, told Reuters she had only ever voted Republican, but the drama of the Trump administration had her thinking twice.
asserted
her → describe → administration
Disorganization within the White House was bleeding into policy, she said, revealing Trump’s lack of focus.
asserted
she → bleed → focus
“Anything good that could be happening is being co-opted by the tomfoolery that's just going on,” Smith said.
uncertain
Smith → happen → tomfoolery
"I hate these gas prices," she added, urging the president to “tighten that ship up.”
asserted
she → hate → ship
As he has in events across the country, Trump heralded what he said were new local investments on Tuesday night.
asserted
he → herald → night
Sibelco, an industrial minerals mining and processing company, was expanding its operations in North Carolina, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick announced on stage without providing specifics.
asserted
Lutnick → process → specifics
Sibelco did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
asserted
Sibelco → respond → comment
Trump said the US Defense Department would also invest $1.5 billion in semiconductor chip production in North Carolina, but did not say where or how the money would be spent.
asserted
money → say → Carolina
Toward the end of his speech, the president repeated his promise to give $5,000 to every US adult should Republicans maintain their hold on Congress.
asserted
Republicans → repeat → Congress
"If we lose," he said, "you get nothing."
asserted
you → lose → nothing
The Aporia
