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.

ABC reports Trump's third Texas campaign trip in a month, with Mary Bruce saying he is heading there and later referring to his presence there that evening. He is seeking to bolster Ken Paxton while unnamed polls show Republican Senate and governor candidates behind their Democratic opponents. Bruce reports Trump's same-day statement that he has no regrets about endorsing Paxton. The report does not establish a delivered rally or election outcomes. Fox's same-evening report identifies the forthcoming address as San Antonio, describes recent polling favoring James Talarico and the Senate race as a toss-up, and directly airs Trump's no-regrets answer about choosing Paxton over John Cornyn. Lucas Tomlinson reports more than $112 million in advertising in the preceding month, about 82 percent from outside groups, mostly supporting Paxton. The reports describe one trip before the scheduled address; neither establishes a delivered rally or election result.