Trump, Obama Rally In States They Won

President Donald Trump visited Chillicothe, Ohio on Wednesday, marking his third trip to the state this month.

At the same time, former President Barack Obama campaigned for Democrats in Georgia alongside former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and Senator Jon Ossoff. Trump has held more than 20 rallies in October. His travel schedule includes upcoming stops in South Carolina, Florida, Kansas, Iowa, Mississippi and Texas. The president's itinerary focuses on states he won two years ago as voters weigh fuel prices, rising costs and the war in Iran.

The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit last week to contest the Alaska Senate race outcome if Democratic challenger Mary Peltola defeats Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan. A second candidate named Dan Sullivan also appears on the ballot. Before boarding Air Force One for Ohio, Trump called on Peltola to withdraw and said she could face prosecution. He cited a New York Times report regarding an effort to recruit the second Sullivan and described the situation as 'voter fraud at the highest level.' Peltola's campaign stated it has no involvement with either Sullivan campaign.

Obama has increased his public appearances for Democratic candidates. During a recent event in Michigan, he criticized Trump's wealth accumulation and White House renovations. Trump has directed rhetoric toward Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed. At a Wyandotte event, El-Sayed responded to the attacks: "They want to point to me and my name. They're doing this because they're trying to distract us." Jason Turkish, who is engaged to Representative Haley Stevens, told The Detroit News he considers El-Sayed an antisemite and supports Republican Mike Rogers. Stevens lost the Democratic primary to El-Sayed narrowly and has since endorsed him.

Ohio's ballot includes Republican Vivek Ramaswamy for governor against Democrat Amy Acton, and Senator Jon Husted against former Senator Sherrod Brown. Ramaswamy's campaign advertisement featured comments from Acton's mother, Donna Arthur, who called her daughter 'a liar' who 'needs help.' Arthur has not seen her daughter in nearly 50 years. Acton, Ohio's former state health director, said she last saw her mother in 1978. Trump backed the advertisement, while Husted and other Republicans distanced themselves from it.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio canceled a planned trip to the Ohio rally, according to a State Department official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the schedule was never formally released. Vice President JD Vance campaigned at an airport rally in Kinston, North Carolina, where Republicans are seeking to hold a Senate seat. Former party chair Michael Whatley faces Democrat Roy Cooper for the seat being vacated by Thom Tillis. Vance criticized Cooper's ties to activists and spoke about government's role: "I don't want the government to do everything for me. I don't want the government to be my nanny."

Voting for the midterm elections takes place next week.