President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he is canceling his planned weekend rally in Dubuque, choosing instead to hold a series of tele-rallies aimed at turning out Republican voters across the country ahead of Tuesday's midterm elections. The decision came just hours after he scrapped a Saturday rally in Kansas.
The Dubuque event, set for Sunday, would have put the president in Iowa's contested 2nd Congressional District, one of several competitive House races on the ballot here this year. According to Yahoo's reporting, the Republican National Committee said the cancellations were intended to maximize Trump's ability to speak to voters nationwide in the campaign's final days.
Why the President Changed His Plans
Trump had planned the Iowa and Kansas stops as part of a midterm blitz covering 35 locations, a schedule he has repeatedly said boosts Republican candidates in the polls. But on Thursday his tone shifted. He told reporters he didn't feel he had to go to Kansas, pointing to what he sees as a strong position for Republican Senator Roger Marshall, who is locked in a tight race with Democrat Adam Hamilton.
That Kansas race has become a toss-up, in part because of voter concerns over the high costs tied to the war in Iran, in a state that has not sent a Democrat to the Senate in nearly a century.
Trump Pushes Back on Health Questions
The president has campaigned at 25 rallies over the past month, and he acknowledged Monday, speaking through a hoarse voice, that the pace has not been easy, saying God didn't make your vocal cords to do a rally every day.
When a reporter pressed him Thursday on whether the Kansas cancellation was tied to his health, Trump bristled and insisted he felt perfect.
You've been following me for two weeks. I feel perfect. You are disgusting. Put yourself in shape. You look like hell.
The Iowa cancellation was confirmed hours after that exchange, according to a White House official and a person familiar with the plans. The New York Times reported that the Republican National Committee confirmed the president would no longer travel to Iowa on Sunday.
What the Tele-Rally Strategy Means for Iowa
Two White House officials said Thursday that Trump is aiming to hold more than 20 tele-rallies by Election Day. CBS News described the shift as a 72-hour sprint of virtual events that party officials believe can reach voters in nearly two dozen states at once.
The RNC said in a news release that the rallies were canceled with the goal of maximizing opportunities for the president to speak to voters across the country, a framing that treats the virtual format as a reach play rather than a retreat.
For Iowa Republicans, the reaction is mixed. GOP operatives in the state, where all congressional races this year except one are competitive, told NBC News that an in-person rally would have been helpful in the 2nd District.
A tele-rally will be helpful in boosting turnout, but an in-person rally would have been really helpful.
Another operative said he would love to have the president in the state, but added that Iowa's in pretty good shape.
Trump Keeps One Event on the Schedule
Trump is still scheduled to appear Friday in Daytona Beach, Florida, campaigning for Republican Representative Randy Fine and Senator Ashley Moody. Both are running in races rated solidly Republican by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report.
No events have been announced for Monday, the day before voters head to the polls.
FAQ
Why did Trump cancel his Iowa rally?
Trump and the Republican National Committee said the Saturday and Sunday rallies were scrapped so the president could hold more than 20 tele-rallies and reach voters in nearly two dozen states before Election Day.
Where was the Iowa rally going to be held?
The rally was planned for Sunday in Dubuque, inside the contested 2nd Congressional District.
Does the cancellation affect Trump's other campaign events?
No. Trump is still scheduled to campaign Friday in Daytona Beach, Florida, for Representative Randy Fine and Senator Ashley Moody.