5 Nov 2018

Trump rallies across US ahead of midterm elections

From Morning Report, 7:25 am on 5 November 2018

The name Donald Trump won't be anywhere on the ballot when Americans go to the polls, but the midterm elections this week will shape the next few years of his presidency. Thirty-five senators, 36 state governors, all 435 members of the House of Representatives as well as dozens of local legislative officials are vying for positions. At the moment, Trump's Republican party controls both houses of the US Congress, making it easier for President Trump to make the changes he wants. But the Democrats are tipped to take the House of Representatives, and if the Republicans keep the Senate, the White House could be confronted with legislative gridlock. Donald Trump is focusing on Immigration and the economy in his rallies as he criss-crosses the United States ahead of Tuesday's crucial vote. RNZ's Tim Watkin is in Florida and has been to a Trump rally. He joins us with the latest.