Trump and Obama split closing rally schedule as fuel costs hit record highs

Americans are facing record fuel prices and rising costs while an unpopular war in Iran continues. This economic backdrop has shaped the final campaign strategies for both major parties as the midterm elections approach next week.

President Donald Trump spent Wednesday night in Chillicothe, Ohio, attempting to energize his base. He told a raucous crowd that a high turnout would lead to a tremendous victory. This event marked part of a weeklong sprint that has included more than 20 rallies this month.

Trump’s itinerary for the coming days is packed with travel to states he won handily two years ago. He visited Mississippi on Monday and made stops in Texas on Tuesday. He plans to campaign in South Carolina, Florida, Kansas, and Iowa in the days ahead.

The president’s focus on deeply red states reflects a defensive posture for the Republican party. His signature super PAC, MAGA Inc., has helped sustain candidates financially. Trump also directed his Department of Justice to file a lawsuit last week to pre-emptively contest the outcome of Alaska’s Senate race if Democratic challenger Mary Peltola wins.

Trump called on Peltola to drop out of the race and warned she could face prosecution. He labeled the situation voter fraud at the highest level. Peltola’s campaign said in a statement that it has no involvement with either campaign for the seat currently held by Sen. Dan Sullivan.

Former President Barack Obama campaigned in suburban Atlanta on Wednesday night. He joined Keisha Lance Bottoms, who is seeking to become the first Black woman elected governor in the United States, and Sen. Jon Ossoff, who is running for reelection. Obama positioned himself as a foil to Trump, criticizing the incumbent for spending time renovating the White House and becoming wealthier while in office.

Obama said Trump is spending time super-gluing gold medallions to the mantel in the Oval Office. He also responded to backlash over his recent comments comparing Trump’s gilded White House flourishes to a Cheesecake Factory. Obama noted that he lived at Chuck E. Cheese and California Pizza Kitchen for about a decade.

Sen. Jon Ossoff focused on the Trump Organization, arguing that the president is using his office as a profit source. The White House has said Trump has ceded control of the family business to his sons. Ossoff described the situation in Washington and at Mar-a-Lago as a spectacle of grift unprecedented in American history.

In Michigan, Democrat Abdul El-Sayed told a crowd in Wyandotte that opponents are trying to distract voters by pointing to his name. He said Michiganders care more about what people pray for than how they pray. Republican Sen. Ted Cruz campaigned with Mike Rogers in Birmingham, describing antisemitism as a poison ripping the country apart.

Trump continued his schedule of rallies, interrupting his speech in Ohio to comment on Jeffrey Epstein. He said he threw Epstein out of Mar-a-Lago decades ago. Trump also repeated claims that he won the 2020 presidential election, stating he has not been doing this very long in his pursuit of a third term.