Trump, Paxton and midterms Iran costs and Maine tariffs

Oct 7

Mary Bruce reports Trump traveling to Texas for his third trip in a month to bolster Ken Paxton, with unnamed polls showing Republicans behind in the Senate and governor races. Newly aired donor audio has Paxton blaming Trump's Dallas convention and the Iran war, especially gasoline, diesel, trucking and food-price pressure. Bruce asks Trump whether the war and fuel prices are Republicans' biggest challenge. Trump claims the war has been won in terms of its objectives, says preventing Iranian nuclear weapons has essentially been accomplished and predicts a quick end and falling oil prices. The report then airs Susan Collins and Troy Jackson debating in Maine: Collins calls herself an opponent of Trump's Canada trade war and cites concrete, pulp and road-salt tariff exemptions; Jackson asks about other goods and says people cannot eat road salt. Returning to Texas, Bruce reports Trump saying he has no regrets about endorsing Paxton. Polling descriptions, candidates' claims and Trump's predictions remain attributed.

Donor audio newly reported on October 7 has Ken Paxton blaming the Iran war and gasoline and diesel costs for campaign difficulties, citing trucking and resulting food-price pressure. ABC also summarizes his Dallas-convention criticism. Mary Bruce puts the war-and-price criticism to Trump, who claims the war's objectives have essentially been achieved and predicts a quick end and falling oil prices. The donor remarks' original date is not established by the broadcast; the indexed occurrence is their public disclosure.