Trump switches to telerallies as midterm election approaches

President Donald Trump canceled scheduled in-person rallies in Iowa and Kansas on Thursday, replacing them with a series of telerallies. The Republican National Committee announced the change in the evening, describing the new format as a 72-hour sprint designed to maximize the president's ability to address voters nationwide. The party stated that telerallies are planned for nearly 20 states, with additional states potentially added to the schedule before the election.

The shift marks a departure from the president's initial plan to hold physical rallies in every state during the final stretch of the campaign. As of Thursday, Trump had completed 25 rallies in October, falling short of a previously stated goal of more than 30. The move allows him to speak for approximately 10 minutes per event, a substantial reduction from the more than 90 minutes he typically delivers at in-person gatherings.

The decision comes as Republicans face tight contests in several states, including Texas, Kansas, Ohio, Iowa, and Alaska. The party also continues to monitor the Senate race in Mississippi. Trump returned to the White House after a second trip to South Carolina in a month, where he sought to support Republican Senate candidate Darline Graham. Graham is competing against Democrat Annie Andrews for a seat that South Carolina Democrats have not held in nearly 30 years.

When asked about the change in plans, Trump suggested the move was strategic rather than health-related. He noted that Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas is performing well and stated, "I don't feel I have to go to Kansas." The president dismissed concerns about his physical condition, telling reporters, "I feel perfect." Earlier in the week in Corinth, Mississippi, he had told a crowd that his vocal cords were not designed for a rally every day.

Democratic candidates reacted quickly to the schedule change. Abdul El-Sayed, the Senate candidate in Michigan, posted on social media that the president's goal of energizing the base had backfired. El-Sayed claimed Trump had "given up" and stated that the president now understands his party has lost the midterms. In Ohio, Democrat Sherrod Brown emphasized economic frustrations, arguing that incumbent Senator Jon Husted prioritizes data centers and Wall Street over families struggling with high costs.

In South Carolina, Darline Graham has faced challenges in building name recognition. Appointed by Governor Henry McMaster in July following the death of her brother, Senator Lindsey Graham, she secured the party nomination in August. Graham praised the president for delivering long-promised results, while warning that Andrews would discard them. Andrews, a pediatrician, urged voters to "try something new for once," suggesting that if they are unhappy with her performance, they can replace her in six years.

Tensions have also emerged within the Republican primary. Representative Ralph Norman, who lost the Senate primary runoff to Graham, has criticized her as unqualified. Norman, who has declined to campaign with Graham, argued the race is closer because of her candidacy. Meanwhile, in Alaska, the state governor ordered an investigation after reports suggested Democratic candidate Mary Peltola's campaign was involved in recruiting another candidate with the same name as Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan. The Justice Department issued new grand jury subpoenas related to the matter on Thursday.

The president traveled to Daytona Beach, Florida, for a rally on Friday. The White House has not yet released his schedule for Monday, the final day of the campaign. It remains unclear if he will hold further in-person events before the vote.