President Donald Trump’s approval problems appear to be shaping where he campaigns this month, with Punchbowl News reporting Monday that he has stuck largely to friendly territory ahead of the midterms.
Trump has already held rallies in 12 states since the start of October. This week, he is scheduled to visit five more: Kansas, Iowa, North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida. Punchbowl News noted that the districts on his itinerary share a common “throughline.”
“Every single one of these stops comes in safe Republican House districts. This means (mostly) Trump-friendly crowds,” the report reads.
Even in those safe districts, Trump has drawn hecklers and protesters. One woman wearing a shirt that read “RELEASE THE EPSTEIN FILES” was attacked by rally attendees. With his next five stops all in friendly areas, Trump appears to be targeting states with competitive Senate races while steering clear of the House districts that will determine control of the chamber.
“The reality is that in the most competitive districts around the country, Trump hasn’t been seen — except for TV ads. And there are good reasons for that,” Punchbowl News’ report reads. “A series of major surveys out this weekend show the depth of the political hole that Trump and Republicans find themselves in.”
The approach falls well short of what Trump promised House Republicans. At a Sept. 2 dinner in the Rose Garden, he said he would spend the “final 30 days” visiting “35 places” to “see if we can get everyone elected,” and asked Speaker Mike Johnson to give him names, Punchbowl noted.
Trump’s approval among Americans has dropped to career lows amid his deeply unpopular war against Iran, which has sent fuel prices soaring. A wave of surveys published over the weekend suggests his standing has only worsened.
The Financial Times reported that Trump’s approval rating on the economy stands at 28%. AP-NORC put it at what Punchbowl News described as a “shockingly low” 26%.
“This is blowout territory on the biggest issue by far for voters,” Punchbowl News’ report reads.