Trump Restores 2 Kansas and Iowa Rallies as Polls Show Democrats Gaining

Q: Why did South Carolina become the race drawing the most attention in the campaign’s final sprint?

South Carolina drew the most attention because an unexpectedly close Senate race emerged in a state where that rarely happens, forcing national Republicans to defend a seat that had been considered safe. The race tightened after Darline Graham was appointed to fill the seat left vacant by her brother Lindsey Graham’s death and then had to quickly mount a campaign for a full term. Her limited political experience, uneven start, and intraparty criticism helped create an opening for Democrat Annie Andrews, who campaigned as a change candidate focused on cost of living and health care. Polling made the race impossible to ignore. Recent surveys showed Graham only narrowly ahead or tied with Andrews, including an ECU poll showing a 51% to 47% race and a New York Times/Siena poll showing the candidates deadlocked at 48% each. That is striking in a state that has not elected a Democrat to the Senate in nearly 30 years. The closeness of the contest also carried broader stakes. Republicans were trying to protect a critical Senate seat as control of Congress remained in play, and Trump’s decision to visit South Carolina twice in a month underscored concern that Graham needed help consolidating support. Analysts also pointed to risks of Republican vote-splitting and unusually strong early turnout, adding to the sense that South Carolina had become one of the final sprint’s most volatile and consequential races.

3 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · Oct 30

Trump will again campaign in person in Kansas and Iowa on Sunday, reinstating two rallies he had canceled a day earlier before Tuesday’s midterm elections.
The events were reshuffled to add more tele-rallies, but the reversal also comes as both states show tighter Senate contests and Democrats gain ground in polling.
In Kansas, an Emerson College poll released Friday put Democrat Adam Hamilton at 49% and Republican Senator Roger Marshall at 45%, underscoring why Republicans want Trump on the ground.
The switch followed Trump’s Thursday remark that he did not feel he had to go to Kansas, a decision Democrats cast as abandoning vulnerable candidates in the campaign’s final days.
Trump is also due in Daytona Beach, Florida, on Friday, and Republicans have not ruled out adding another event as they try to blunt voter backlash over living costs and high fuel prices.