During a midterm campaign rally in the United States, Donald Trump hinted at another presidential run, condemned the teachings of “twisted race and gender” in schools, and said his Democratic rival was “stupid.” Either way, they hate our country.”
Key Point:
- Trump also plans to campaign in Florida and Ohio ahead of midterm elections
- He warned of possible election fraud as he again falsely claimed that the 2020 defeat was the result of widespread fraud
- Federal Intelligence Agency warns of possible political violence from far-right extremists as midterm elections approach
“If you want to stop destroying our country and save the American Dream, you must vote Republican this Tuesday,” Trump said at a rally in Latrobe, southeast of Pittsburgh.
As he addressed the crowd three days before the midterm elections, which would determine control of Congress, sources said Trump, who is preparing to start his third run for the White House after the midterms, could face a 2020 defeat. The result of widespread fraud.
Multiple courts, state agencies, and members of his own administration have rejected that claim.
Still, polls show that a significant number of Republican voters embrace the claim, as do many candidates for Congress, governors, and state offices that oversee election administration.
“I’m going to take back that beautiful house,” Trump said of the 2024 presidential election.
The evening rally in Latrobe was part of a late blitzkrieg that would bring Mr. Trump to Florida and Ohio.
He hopes the strong Republican approval rating will create momentum for the 2024 run, which is expected to begin days or weeks after the polls close.
Trump has condemned what he calls a “bloody wave of crime” and warned that educators are indoctrinating children with “twisted race and gender” teachings.
“They are either stupid or they hate our country,” Trump said of his Democratic opponents.
He also warned of possible election fraud in the upcoming midterm elections.
Due in part to such rhetoric, federal intelligence agencies have warned that political violence by far-right extremists could erupt in the coming days.
“Our country isn’t as bad as it is now,” Trump said.
“Our country is in decline.”
Obama warns of dangerous political climate
Former President Barack Obama has warned that divisions over the Democratic nominee are contributing to a “dangerous situation” in American politics.
The biggest names in Democratic and Republican politics, including Obama, President Joe Biden and his predecessor Trump, are in the pivotal midterm Senate election between Democrat John Fetterman and Republican celebrity doctor Mehmet Oz. Was in Pennsylvania hoping to throw the balance off.
“Being grumpy and lying is not an option,” the former president said.
“On Tuesday, let’s not let our country go backwards 50 years ago,” Obama told hundreds of voters on a stormy day in Pittsburgh. “The only way we can save democracy is if we fight together.”
Obama said the politically motivated attack on Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband, Paul, was the product of hateful rhetoric.
“Our habit of demonizing political opponents and saying crazy things creates a dangerous atmosphere,” Obama said, without directly referring to Republicans.
“There are politicians who work not to unite people, but to divide them, to make us angry and to make us afraid of each other for their own benefit.”
Republicans say Democrats are also involved in political violence, citing widespread anti-racism protests that rocked the country in 2020.
They criticize the Democrats for not continuing to focus on inflation and crime, the main concerns of voters, according to most polls.
In a Saturday morning Twitter post, Oz criticized Fetterman and Biden for not doing enough to support the domestic energy industry and promised to fight inflation if elected.
“As your next Senator, I will focus on issues important to voters in all communities, including lowering prices on everything from gas to groceries,” he wrote.
Obama is wrapping up a five-state tour aimed at staving off losses for his party. After an appearance in Pittsburgh with Mr. Fetterman, he’ll be heading to Philadelphia to perform at Temple University with Mr. Biden.
Trump is ready for another run
Trump endorsed hand-picked Republican Senator Dr. Oz and Republican gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano at a rally in Latrobe, southeast of Pittsburgh.
Scott Flaherty, a 53-year-old mechanic from Pittsburgh who was on his way to a Trump rally, said he’s tired of Democrats calling Republicans extreme. He said he considers Trump, Dr. Oz and Mastriano the mainstream.
“Extreme is paying $5 for gas. Extreme is closing school districts,” Flaherty said.
Advisors say Trump has steadily gained support since leaving office, but the former president, who plans to run for a third straight White House victory after the midterm elections, is also working hard to maintain his profile. There is
That could set the stage for a Biden-Trump rematch, but some Democrats believe Tuesday’s crushing defeat of Biden’s party will force the president out of office in 2024, while others He said he could pressure someone to take over the mantle of the party.
The Fetterman-Oz Senate election, along with Georgia and Nevada, is one of three key contests to determine whether Democrats maintain a very thin majority in the Senate. Cabinet to the Supreme Court.
Independent election forecasters and polls show Republicans as the leading candidates to gain control of the House, and the Senate is in chaos.
Republicans would block Mr. Biden’s legislative bill and give him the power to launch potentially damaging investigations.
early voting
About 38.8 million Americans have already voted early, either in person or by mail, according to the US Elections Project.
Election officials have warned that it could take days starting Tuesday for final results to be known in hotly contested elections, such as the Senate races in Pennsylvania and Georgia.
Both parties have drawn considerable attention to Pennsylvania because of the district’s strategic importance and the history of voters swinging from one party to the other in the last four presidential elections. is.
State Lieutenant Governor Fetterman held a commanding lead in the race all summer, but Dr. Oz has whittled it down over the past two months.
Some factors may be local. A stroke this spring forced Mr. Fetterman to scale back his campaign schedule and affected his speech.
At last month’s debate, he often stumbled over his words.
But Dr. Oz’s victory also reflects a shift in national momentum in favor of the Republican Party. The voter focus on inflation and crime has proven more persistent than concerns about abortion.
The Democratic early lead in several other Senate races, including those in Georgia and Nevada, has also dwindled or disappeared entirely in recent weeks.
Also, the confrontation with Democrats is Mr. Biden’s unpopularity. A Reuters/Ipsos poll completed on Tuesday showed that just 40% of Americans approve of the job as president, and Mr. Biden is ahead of campaigning in major states.
One bright spot for Democrats is the gubernatorial race in Pennsylvania, where Democratic Attorney General Josh Shapiro holds a commanding lead over Republican state Senator Mastriano.
Mastriano, who will appoint Pennsylvania’s secretary of state and wield significant influence over the conduct of the election, introduced a failed resolution after Trump lost Pennsylvania in 2020, and the Republican-controlled The candidate won the votes of the state’s presidential electors.
Reuters/AP
