President Donald Trump hit the campaign trail in Texas on Thursday, kicking off a 32-day campaign blitz ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. He is betting himself as the Republican Party's closing weapon — even as a new AP-NORC poll released the same day put his approval rating at a career-low 31%.
Trump announced Tuesday at the White House that he would spend the 32 days before Election Day crisscrossing the country, beginning Thursday in Texas, followed by Oklahoma, with Alabama on Friday, Nebraska on Monday, plus Ohio and "all different places."
"Just so you understand, they all want me to go. I'm one person. They all want me to go campaign," Trump told reporters. He brushed off suggestions that Republican candidates are distancing themselves: "You love me, and I love them." His allies have pledged he would "campaign like it's 2024 again."
At a Peterbilt Motors factory in Denton, Texas, Trump rallied for state Attorney General Ken Paxton, locked in a competitive Senate race against Democratic state Rep. James Talarico — tight even in Republican-dominated Texas, with Paxton's candidacy weighed down by past scandals.
"I didn't even know he was here," Trump said on stage, pointing at Paxton. "The guy is the greatest attorney general in the United States of America." He added: "We need Ken so badly and that's why I'm here."
In Oklahoma, Trump will campaign with Republican Mike Mazzei, running for governor against Democratic state House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson.
The blitz launched the same day the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research released its poll (conducted September 24–28 among 2,140 adults, margin of error ±2.9 points): just 31% of Americans approve of Trump's job performance — the lowest of either of his two terms, down two points from July. His previous career low of 32% came in late 2017.
Worse is the economy number: only 26% approve of his handling of the economy, a new low — below Joe Biden's 28% in June 2022 amid record inflation.
It was bad poll after bad poll this week. A Wall Street Journal survey put him at 37%, the lowest pre-midterm approval for any president since the outlet began polling in 1990. A Quinnipiac University poll on Wednesday showed 34% approval against 61% disapproval — tying Quinnipiac's all-time disapproval record, last reached on January 18, 2021, days after the January 6 Capitol riot.
Voters are frustrated by the rising cost of living, and the war on Iran has disrupted global energy markets, deepening economic discontent. Consumer confidence has fallen to a 12-year low.
Some top Republicans have begun distancing themselves — calling for an end to the Iran war or a softening of immigration policy. Trump, though, believes personally rallying his "Make America Great Again" base is the best help he can offer.
Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security is facing bipartisan criticism for spending $20 million on campaign-style advertisements promoting Trump's record. Democratic Senator Patty Murray called the ads "illegal and a shockingly corrupt misuse of taxpayer dollars" in a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin.
The midterms will decide control of both chambers of Congress and are widely seen as a referendum on Trump's second term. Trump himself has suggested a Democratic sweep of the House and Senate could lead to a third impeachment effort against him.
Historic-low approval, some in his party keeping their distance, voters squeezed by prices — Trump's 32-day gamble cuts both ways. His presence fires up the base; it may also push swing voters further away. November 3 will tell.