Trump, Paxton and midterms Iran costs and Maine tariffs

Oct 6

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.

In the Maine Senate debate, Susan Collins calls herself an outspoken opponent of Trump's Canada trade war and says she secured exemptions for concrete, pulp and road salt. Troy Jackson says he was challenging the omission of other goods, rather than the road-salt exemption itself, and argues people cannot eat road salt. ABC presents the exchange within competitive midterm campaigning. The claims are the candidates' positions, rather than a new tariff decision.