Trump makes final midterm campaign pitch as control of Congress is contested

In his final major campaign event before the November 3 midterms, Donald Trump called the vote exceptionally important while acknowledging the historical difficulty facing the party of a sitting president. The supplied reports describe a close Senate contest and expectations that Democrats could retake the House.

• Trump said the sitting president’s party usually loses seats in midterms, but argued Republicans had made a strong effort; he called the November 3 vote the most important midterm in his lifetime.· 2 sources
• The ABC report said polling put Trump’s approval at about 37 per cent and described Republicans as facing a difficult fight for Congress. It said Democrats were tipped to retake the House, while the Senate contest was more competitive.· 2 sources
• The ABC report identified Texas as a closely watched Senate race, with Republican Ken Paxton trailing Democrat James Talarico in many polls; it also listed tight contests in Michigan, Alaska, Iowa, Kansas, Maine and Ohio.· 1 source
• The Standard said Trump discussed Washington building projects at his final pitch, including a proposed triumphal arch, and reported that the project had faced legal challenges.· 1 source
• The Standard reported that Trump promised $5,000 to every adult US citizen if Republicans retained both chambers, and that Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer criticised Trump’s closing message.· 1 source