Trump Rallies in Ohio, Obama in Georgia, Days Before Midterms

With the midterms days away, both parties spent Wednesday, Oct. 28, making their closing arguments in the states that could decide the elections.

President Trump held a rally in Chillicothe, Ohio, for Sen. Jon Husted and gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy. Husted is fighting former Sen. Sherrod Brown for a seat that could help decide Senate control. Ramaswamy faces Democrat Amy Acton in the race to succeed term-limited Gov. Mike DeWine.

"If you can get out to vote, we're going to have a tremendous victory," Trump told the crowd.

It was Trump's 28th rally of the cycle, according to The Daily Wire's count. He did more than 20 this month alone, according to the AP.

Obama answers in Georgia

At the same time, Barack Obama was in suburban Atlanta with Sen. Jon Ossoff and former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, the Democratic nominee for governor. If she wins, Bottoms would be Georgia's first woman governor and the first Black woman to govern any state.

"Everywhere you go, it feels like change is in the air," Obama said. He took aim at high costs driven by inflation and the war in Iran. He also mocked Trump's White House renovations, saying the president is "spending time supergluing gold medallions to the mantel in the Oval Office."

Kamala Harris is set to begin a three-day campaign swing with Ossoff on Thursday, according to The New York Times. Democrats have scaled back their spending in the Senate race, which the Times describes as a sign of confidence in Ossoff. The governor's contest remains far more competitive, and the Times says that raises the prospect that many voters may split their tickets in a state with a history of divided victories.

Georgia's early vote is already large: more than two million Georgians have voted early in person, in record turnout, according to the office of Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. Trump himself rallied in Georgia on Saturday.

The terrain Trump is defending

Trump spent the month in places he won comfortably two years ago. The AP notes that Americans are dealing with record fuel prices, rising costs and an Iran war it describes as unpopular.

The New York Times reports that Trump's sinking approval ratings have expanded the competitive Senate map and forced Republicans to play defense in deep-red states.

The White House has a different pitch. Spokeswoman Olivia Wales told The Daily Wire that with Republicans in control of Congress, "Americans can expect safer streets, lower taxes, a secure border, and energy dominance." She said Democrats "voted against the largest middle-class tax cut in history."

Republicans hold slim majorities in the House and Senate. Democrats are trying to make inroads into traditionally red areas to pick up crucial seats.

The Alaska lawsuit

The most unusual move of the week came before any votes were cast. Last week Trump directed the Justice Department to file a lawsuit preemptively contesting the outcome of Alaska's Senate race should Democrat Mary Peltola win it.

The trigger is a second candidate on the ballot with the same name as Republican incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan.

The New York Times found that operatives aligned with Peltola spent months recruiting candidates to peel votes from Sullivan. Trump called it "voter fraud at the highest level," said Peltola should drop out, warned she could face prosecution, and said: "It turned out it was a scheme by the Democrats. That's what they do best: they cheat."

Peltola's campaign denies involvement. It said in a statement that it "has no involvement with either Sullivan campaign."

A president directing the Justice Department to sue over a race that has not been decided is a serious step. The department is supposed to act on evidence, not on a candidate's call.

Michigan and the religion line

In Michigan, Democrat Abdul El-Sayed is running against Republican Mike Rogers. Trump has called El-Sayed a "jihadist" and a "clown." Republicans have argued El-Sayed is antisemitic. He denies it.

El-Sayed said Wednesday in Wyandotte: "They want to point to me and my name. They're doing this because they're trying to distract us."

At the Ohio rally, Sen. Bernie Moreno suggested El-Sayed should be disqualified because he does not accept Jesus Christ as a savior. The Constitution's Article VI bars religious tests for public office. Voters can judge a candidate's record and statements, but a faith requirement is not a legitimate standard.

Rep. Haley Stevens, who lost the Democratic primary to El-Sayed, told CNN Wednesday she still supports him, though she urged him to disavow certain ads.

New Hampshire and Ohio details

In New Hampshire's open Senate race, Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas and Republican former Sen. John E. Sununu debated Wednesday. Trump endorsed Sununu, but Sununu criticized the president's handling of the Iran war and tariffs. He called Sen. Susan Collins a "great model" for a Republican who stands up to Trump.

Pappas said Sununu "cheered it on from the beginning" on Iran and is "changing his tune." He also said Trump is "wrecking New Hampshire's Main Street economy."

Sununu countered that Pappas has been "part of the problem for eight years" on inflation. He said Pappas's attack on his old Social Security bill, which would have voluntarily shifted some people's savings into private investment accounts, was "designed to scare senior citizens."

In Ohio, Ramaswamy's campaign has faced broad criticism over an attack ad aimed at Acton, according to The New York Times. ABC News reports the ad features Acton's estranged mother. Trump defended the ad Wednesday night.

The final days

Trump's schedule has him in Rock Hill, South Carolina, on Thursday, Oct. 29, then Daytona Beach on Friday, Salina, Kansas, on Saturday and Dubuque, Iowa, on Sunday, according to The Daily Wire. The New York Times' Theodore Schleifer reports that the Dubuque event offers a "VIP Rally Experience" with tickets from $5,000 to $250,000, including a potential photo with the president.

The White House has not yet revealed Trump's travel plans for Monday or where he will spend Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3.