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U.S. President Donald Trump asked supporters at his midterm convention to consider November’s elections a referendum on his presidency, while acknowledging it may take voters time to feel the benefits of his policies.
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The unusual high-profile gathering in Dallas of lawmakers, cabinet officials, and donors comes as Trump and his party face substantial headwinds ahead of Election Day. With polls showing Trump’s popularity at record lows and Americans of different political persuasions troubled by his handling of the war in Iran and economy, he needs a jolt of energy to help his allies maintain control of Congress.
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If Trump was hoping to dispel a sense of foreboding, his trip to Texas on Wednesday got off to a rocky start.
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Before boarding Air Force One to depart the Washington area, an emergency inflatable slide deployed, delaying the president’s departure. Trump said it was for an inspection; a person familiar with the matter said military personnel accidentally triggered the slide.
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The president also conceded to reporters that efforts to push down gas prices might not bear fruit until after the midterms, a theme he returned to in his speech as he asked voters to keep faith in — and help bolster — his agenda.
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“I want you to remember me in four or five years when this country is rocking — remember, I’m the one that got it started,” Trump said.
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In his prime time speech, Trump highlighted his accomplishments: securing an overhaul of the tax code, brokering prescription drug price cut deals, and increasing energy production. It amounted to an attempt to rally his base to turn out in November, albeit with a message that may not be as well received by voters worried about the cost of living and the war.
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He also planned to propose making his tax cuts permanent and cutting credit card swipe fees in a bid to address affordability concerns, according to excerpts released by the White House.
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“Your vote will decide whether our country stumbles at the starting gate of our next 250 years or surges forward and never ever looks back,” Trump said from the stage at the American Airlines Center.
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The president has promised to travel extensively in the run-up to the election to help Republican candidates in tight races across the country, and on Wednesday said he expected to make some 35 trips to support the GOP in key races. But he also signalled some of his campaigning might be virtual, and past promises to hit the trail have not always materialized.
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Trump is also directing his political action committee to invest some of the hundreds of millions of dollars it has raised to boost candidates in crucial races, including $10 million for Ken Paxton, who is running for U.S. Senate in Texas against a much better-funded opponent, Democratic candidate James Talarico.
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With less than two months to the election, though, it’s unclear if the convention will deliver the boost Trump is seeking — or how beneficial it will prove to be for lawmakers in tough races.