By Salma El-Sakka
President Donald Trump has canceled his scheduled Saturday rally in Kansas, one of his only planned campaign appearances the weekend before the midterm elections, the White House announced Thursday.
Shift to Virtual Rallies
Instead of appearing at Salina Regional Airport to support Republican Senator Roger Marshall, Trump will participate in a series of virtual rallies. It remains unclear whether the Kansas event will be rescheduled or if a Sunday rally in Iowa will proceed.
Impact on Senate Race
The cancellation comes as Marshall faces a tight re-election battle against Democratic candidate Adam Hamilton, a pastor. Recent CNN/SSRS polling shows Hamilton leading among likely voters at 49 percent to Marshall’s 45 percent. The last time Kansas elected a Democratic U.S. senator was in 1939.
Previous Rally Controversy
Trump’s last appearance in Kansas was marked by protests that led to at least 11 people being escorted from the venue. During that rally, Trump used an antisemitic slur while defending Marshall’s history of suing former patients for unpaid medical debt.
Republican Response
Kansas GOP Chair Danedri Herbert said the Republican National Committee informed her of the cancellation and plans for telerallies. State party executive director Rob Fillion noted that virtual events allow Trump to address multiple locations simultaneously.
White House Strategy
The White House stated the president will continue connecting with Americans through more than 20 telerallies before Election Day, highlighting his accomplishments and expanding his reach nationwide.
