By Nandita Bose
SIOUX CITY, Iowa, Oct 22 (Reuters) – President Donald Trump heads to Iowa on Thursday to shore up Republicans in a state he won by 13 percentage points two years ago, but where his weakened standing and voter anxiety over his policies have complicated the party’s prospects in the November 3 midterm elections.
Trump will hold a rally in Sioux City as Republicans defend a Senate seat, three House districts and the governor’s office, giving Democrats an opening after years of Republican gains.
Some Republicans Trump is trying to help have broken with him over the Iran war, as higher fuel and grocery prices deepen voters’ economic worries.
Republican Representative Ashley Hinson, in a close Senate race against Democratic state Representative Josh Turek, has called for an “immediate end” to the war, saying Iowans should not bear higher fuel or grocery prices because of it.
Republican Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Zach Nunn, facing difficult reelection races, joined Democrats last month in voting to limit Trump’s war powers in Iran.
Democrat Rob Sand leads Republican Zach Lahn in recent polling for governor, while Democrats are targeting an open House seat in Iowa’s second congressional district.
Republican losses would be a setback for Trump in a state where his popularity helped the party build a commanding advantage. The Senate and House races could help decide control of Congress, shaping his ability to advance his agenda during his final two years.
Republicans also worry about rural voters who powered Trump’s Iowa victories, with farmers facing higher costs and trade uncertainty. A Marist poll this month found 42% of likely voters said their finances had worsened over the past year, including more than half of independents. Thirty-five percent viewed their vote as a vote against Trump, versus 21% who saw it as a vote for him.
Iowa is part of Trump’s push through states Republicans usually expect to win. He campaigned in Kansas on Monday for Republican Senator Roger Marshall and traveled to South Carolina on Wednesday to support Republican Senator Darline Graham.
Trump is trying to turn out supporters who back him in presidential contests but may stay home when he is not on the ballot. He has urged them to vote as though he were running.
His campaign swing comes as his approval rating has fallen to 31%, the lowest of either presidential term, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released Monday. The survey found 68% of Americans disapproved of his handling of the economy.
At recent rallies, his economic message has largely avoided the financial pressures facing many Americans. The Iran war has driven up gas prices, compounding broader cost-of-living concerns, while Trump has repeatedly promised prices will fall when the conflict ends.
Behind the scenes, Trump has questioned campaign spending, criticized redistricting efforts and second-guessed candidate choices, according to people familiar with the matter. White House spokesman Davis Ingle rejected the people’s characterizations, saying they were “armchair experts peddling their baseless speculation.” Publicly, Trump has noted the tendency of a president’s party to lose seats in midterm elections.
Trump is scheduled to return to Iowa on November 1, two days before Election Day.
(Reporting by Nandita Bose in Sioux City, Iowa; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Lincoln Feast.)
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