President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance launched a focused campaign tour on Thursday, heading to solidly Republican areas to reinvigorate flagging party enthusiasm ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. Trump’s itinerary includes a 32‑day blitz that began with stops in Texas and Oklahoma, while Vance concentrated on Florida and other GOP‑leaning regions.
At a truck facility near Dallas, Trump declared, “I think we’re going to win. Every place I’ve gone, we win.” He dismissed suggestions that his heart was not in the effort, saying, “My heart is in it like never before.” The president also touted his recent achievements and pinned economic pressures on the Biden administration.
Vance campaigned in Lakeland, Florida, framing Republicans as champions of common sense against a Democratic drift to the left. “I have the easiest job in the world,” he said, “I get to talk about how crazy the Democrats are.”
Public opinion, however, paints a challenging picture. An AP‑NORC poll released this week shows only 17 % of U.S. adults approve of Trump’s handling of the cost of living, and just 26 % approve of his overall economic stewardship—a new low for the president.
The declining approval has stoked Republican concerns about the party’s electoral prospects. Trump has brushed off the dip, suggesting his team “maybe isn’t doing a good job selling it.” He has spent considerable time criticizing former President Joe Biden and defending the ongoing Iran conflict rather than addressing affordability directly.
Democrats have seized on the numbers, with the DNC’s deputy communications director, Kendall Witmer, calling the effort “desperately trying to rally their base as the midterm elections approach and Republicans face defeat.” Witmer attributed economic strain to the Iran war and urged voters to give the party “another chance.”
In Oklahoma, Trump campaigned alongside Republican Mike Mazzei, who is vying for the gubernatorial nomination against Democrat Cyndi Munson. The event took place on Choctaw Nation land, placing Trump among the few sitting presidents to visit a tribal nation.
Trump also appeared at a Texas rally supporting Attorney General Ken Paxton, who faces a competitive Senate challenge from Democrat James Talarico. The president joked that Paxton “could be a pain in the ass sometimes,” but stressed the need for his candidacy.
During the Texas stop, Trump highlighted former NBA star Dennis Rodman, calling him a longtime friend and noting his ties to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Rodman was present but not invited to speak.
Vance continued his own tour, campaigning in central Florida for Republican Rep. Byron Donalds, who is running for governor against independent‑turned‑Democrat David Jolly. Vance also rallied in South Texas with GOP candidate Eric Flores, who is competing in a tight U.S. House race.
Looking ahead, Trump’s schedule includes stops in Vandalia, Ohio, on Saturday and Grand Island, Nebraska, on Monday, as part of an almost daily campaign push across the country. White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles has told Republican senators that the president will maintain a near‑daily travel cadence leading up to the midterms.
Republican officials acknowledge the headwinds but maintain confidence in their strategy, citing continued financial support for the campaign. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia defended the decision to send Trump to traditionally conservative territory, arguing his broad appeal can mobilize voters nationwide.
“He can get more of his voters out—that are going to be our voters—than anybody else,” Capito said.