Why is Trump opening his midterm tour in deeply conservative states if voter frustration over prices and daily costs is still rising?

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Trump is opening in deeply conservative states because his immediate midterm problem is turnout and reassurance, not persuasion. Reporting and strategist interviews describe the tour as a defensive effort to reinforce support in places where he is still stronger than in swing states, but where enthusiasm has softened as frustration over prices, gas, food, housing and health costs has grown. That matters because many of the voters Republicans rely on in rural and red-state areas say affordability is their top issue. The KFF/AP rural voter survey found cost of living dominates concerns, and that economic dissatisfaction can reduce certainty about voting even among Republican-leaning voters. In that environment, rallies in friendly territory are meant to energize low-propensity supporters, remind them why to vote, and limit slippage before the campaign moves deeper into competitive contests. The specific locations also have practical value beyond the states themselves. Durant, Oklahoma, sits near the Texas border and the Dallas-Fort Worth media market, allowing one event to reach voters in both Oklahoma and Texas. Mobile, Alabama, can spill into neighboring media markets and help surrounding races. Nebraska and Ohio also fit a strategy of boosting conservative turnout for down-ballot candidates in regions where organizers see enthusiasm as essential. There is also a political risk calculation. Trump’s approval has weakened on inflation and cost-of-living issues, so beginning in…

Lankford Backs Trump’s Durant Speech on 3 Issues After Oklahoma Rally

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Lankford Backs Trump’s Durant Speech on 3 Issues After Oklahoma Rally

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