President Trump is closing out a month of midterm campaigning with a message that is part pitch and part farewell, NPR reports: he has told crowds that they will "never see it again."
A rally-heavy October
Trump held more than 25 rallies in October, mostly in red states where Republicans face political headwinds. In South Carolina he promoted two Senate candidates he personally picked but who have struggled to excite Republican voters, Darline Graham in South Carolina and Michael Whatley in North Carolina. "I hope you enjoy it because you're never going to see it again," he said of his rallies.
NPR notes that Trump will not appear on the ballot again, and it is unclear how many Republicans will want voters "pretending" he is after the midterms. But that is his plea for now: "Please pretend I'm on the ballot cause in a way I am on the ballot, because they want to do away with all of the tremendous things we've done. The tax cuts, the border," he said at a rally in Greenville, North Carolina.
The hits
His speeches lean on familiar themes, including tariffs. He also promised a $5,000 "Trump dividend" for American adults if Republicans win the House and Senate, adding that it would not stretch far at his Mar-a-Lago resort. NPR describes the closing argument as unconventional in a year when affordability is a top issue.
The crowds
Fans said the rallies have felt different with Trump not on the ballot. Blake Marnell, known at rallies as "Brick Suit" for a brick-patterned suit honoring the border wall pledge, said he went from rally to rally in October. Cindy New of Emerald Isle, North Carolina, said she had never seen Trump in person: "One and done."
Schedule shuffle
The Republican National Committee announced Thursday that planned weekend rallies in Iowa and Kansas were canceled in favor of tele-rallies, but in-person events were restored within 24 hours and set for Sunday.
Sources: NPR