Trump Rally Targets Iowa’s Low-Turnout GOP Voters

President Donald Trump’s appeal to voters to “pretend” he is on the ballot reflects Republicans’ effort to turn out low-propensity Trump supporters, including in Iowa’s heavily Republican 4th Congressional District, where party leaders say his personal presence can motivate voters who may otherwise skip a midterm. But a poll cited by one analysis suggests Trump may also be energizing Democrats against him: Democratic voters are more likely to say his endorsement would make them less likely to back a candidate than Republicans are to say it would increase their support. Critics argue that Republican candidates’ association with Trump—and their silence about his conduct and policies—makes the midterms a referendum on the president, while some local Republicans would rather keep their campaigns focused on local issues. Trump’s Sioux City rally, held in an airport hangar as he campaigned for Iowa Republicans, also drew scrutiny after he described a miles-long line for an arena, though the event was not held in an arena and video showed attendees packed into part of the hangar.