Trump and Biden lead rallies in the final stretch of the US legislative elections

President Joe Biden and the former president Donald Trump They will headline rallies in New York and Florida, respectively, in a bid to galvanize supporters, two days before a contested midterm election in which Republicans are pushing to control both houses of Congress.

Biden It will appear in Westchester County, normally Democratic territory, where Republicans threaten to gain ground, thanks in part to unrelenting messaging that paints their opponents as soft on crime and inflation.

Democratic New York Governor Kathy Hochul faces an unexpectedly tough race against Republican Lee Zeldin, while Democratic incumbents in the US House of Representatives are locked in tight battles across the state.

Trump, meanwhile, will appear in Miami along with the two senators and several state representatives. For years, Florida has swung from party to party, but recently it has trended Republican and is not considered a major battleground in these elections.

The frequent rallies of Trump they have served to maintain his own profile as he contemplates launching a third White House bid after the midterm elections, advisers say.

Florida, in particular, could serve as a major battleground in any nominating contest, as its Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, is seen by strategists as a formidable contender for the GOP nomination, should he enter the fray.

That has made DeSantis an increasingly frequent target of Trump, who referred to the governor as “Ron DeSanctimonious” at a Saturday night event.

Leading Democratic and Republican figures have campaigned heavily in recent weeks. Both Trump and Biden appeared in Pennsylvania on Saturday, as did former Democratic President Barack Obama.

First Lady Jill Biden will attend the canvass for Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo in Texas on Sunday, while Vice President Kamala Harris will be in Chicago, whose suburbs are hosting a pair of competitive elections. The House of Representatives.

For Democrats, Sunday’s rallies – held in traditionally pro-party areas – are a last-minute opportunity to minimize Tuesday’s losses.

Democratic strategists acknowledge that, in recent weeks, momentum has shifted toward the Republicans, as voter concerns about inflation and crime have proven more relevant than concerns about abortion.

Democrats’ early lead in several Senate races, including those in Pennsylvania, Georgia and Nevada, has narrowed or evaporated altogether in recent weeks.

Top Democrats have emphasized their work to lower prescription drug prices and portrayed their opponents as a threat to Social Security at recent rallies, while Republicans have questioned the strength of their opponents’ support for law enforcement and have criticized his management of the US-Mexico border.

Nonpartisan election forecasts and polls show that Republicans are the heavy favorites to take control of the House of Representatives, and that the Senate is a long shot. Control of one of those chambers would give Republicans the power to block Biden’s legislative agenda and launch potentially damaging investigations.

Biden’s unpopularity also works against the Democrats. Only 40% of Americans approve of the president’s job, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted on Tuesday, prompting Biden not to campaign in some swing states.

kg