President Trump told a Northern Kentucky crowd Saturday that the Nov. 3 election is “the most important midterm in the history of our country.” Then he gave voters a reason to turn out: a $100 million federal investment in a Kentucky drug plant if Republicans win.
Trump spoke for more than an hour at Truist Arena in Highland Heights, according to LINK nky. He came to boost Rep. Andy Barr in the race to replace retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell, and to rally voters across the river in Ohio.
“Pretend I’m on the ballot. Go out and vote,” Trump told the crowd.
A $100 million pledge for Winchester
The biggest news of the day was an economic promise. Trump said that if Republicans win, the Department of War would invest $100 million in the pharmaceutical company Anthea to revive a drug manufacturing plant in Winchester, Kentucky, according to Fox19 and LINK nky.
The pledge fits the administration’s push to bring manufacturing back to American soil. A working drug plant in central Kentucky would mean local jobs and medicine made at home.
Trump also repeated his promise of $5,000 payments to “all adult citizens” if Republicans keep control, LINK nky reported.
Barr gets the president’s backing
Trump praised Barr from the stage. “Your next senator, Andy Barr, has been a warrior in Congress for many years,” he said, according to Fox19.
Barr faces Democrat Charles Booker, a former state representative. Trump called Booker “a communist lunatic.”
Barr, who spoke before the president, credited Trump’s foreign policy with making the world safer. “The Ayatollah is dead, and its nuclear infrastructure is under rubble,” Barr said of Iran. He also said oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz had recovered to 80% of prewar levels thanks to the U.S. Navy, Fox19 reported.
Trump also stood with Ed Gallrein, the former Navy SEAL running in Kentucky’s 4th District. Gallrein won the GOP primary over Rep. Thomas Massie with Trump’s endorsement. “It is the Communist Manifesto versus the Constitution,” Gallrein told the crowd.
From Ohio, Trump promoted Sen. Jon Husted, who faces Democrat Sherrod Brown, and Vivek Ramaswamy, the Republican nominee for governor.
A moment of mercy
Early in the speech, security removed a young protester. Trump asked that the man not be charged. “We shouldn’t ruin his life and press charges,” he said, according to LINK nky.
Seven states in seven days
Kentucky was the start of a busy stretch. The Washington Examiner laid out Trump’s schedule for the coming week, and nearly every stop is a close race:
- Monday, Wichita, Kansas: backing Sen. Roger Marshall against Democrat Adam Hamilton.
- Tuesday, Greenville, North Carolina: boosting Michael Whatley, the GOP nominee for the seat of retiring Sen. Thom Tillis, against Democrat Roy Cooper. Republican Laurie Buckhout is also challenging Rep. Don Davis in the 1st District.
- Wednesday, Clemson, South Carolina: supporting Senate nominee Darline Graham, who is running for the seat held by her late brother, Lindsey Graham.
- Thursday, Sioux City, Iowa: helping Ashley Hinson in a tight race against Democrat Josh Turek for retiring Sen. Joni Ernst’s seat.
- Friday, Fort Myers, Florida: pushing House challengers Scott Singer and Mike Beltran against Democratic Reps. Jared Moskowitz and Kathy Castor.
- Saturday, Macon, Georgia: backing Rick Jackson, who leads Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms in the governor’s race.
- Sunday, St. Clair County, Michigan: rallying for Mike Rogers in his Senate race against Democrat Abdul El-Sayed.
In September, Trump said he would target 35 races in about 30 days. “I’m going to go to every one of those 35 places, and we’re going to see if we can get everyone elected,” he said, according to the Examiner.
Booker said he welcomed the visit and called his race tight, according to Fox19.
The bottom line
Presidents often keep their distance from tough midterm races. Trump is doing the opposite, putting himself on the line in seven states in seven days.
In Kentucky, he brought more than a speech. He brought a plan to make medicine in America again, a strong endorsement for Barr and a clear message: if you like the results, show up.
With 16 days left, the president is betting that his voters will treat this election like his own.