President Donald Trump held a campaign rally in Mobile, Alabama, on Friday night, continuing his strategy of visiting reliably Republican states to energize the base ahead of the midterm elections. This appearance follows a recent trip to Texas and Oklahoma and is part of a broader tour through deep-red territories where Trump enjoys overwhelming support.
During his speech at The Mitchell Center, Trump emphasized the importance of voter turnout among Republicans, acknowledging his own historically low approval ratings. He encouraged supporters to mentally include him in their ballots, stating, “When I’m not on the ballot, we don’t do well… When I’m on the ballot, we kill everybody. So just close your eyes and pretend I’m on the ballot.”
The president also addressed economic concerns, particularly rising oil costs linked to the ongoing conflict with Iran. Trump characterized the higher prices as a “small price” compared to the alternative of a nuclear-armed Iran, suggesting that costs would likely decrease after the midterms coincide with a potential end to the war. He cited a record-low 31% approval rating from an AP-NORC poll while defending his economic record.
Trump highlighted the historical significance of Mobile, noting that his political journey effectively began there in August 2015 when then-Sen. Jeff Sessions endorsed him. He also announced plans to return to the state next week for the Georgia-Alabama college football game. Previous winners of the 2016 election, including Rep. Barry Moore, who backed Trump during the 2015 rally, joined him at Friday’s event.
The visit carries strategic weight beyond Alabama. Following redistricting, Mobile falls within the 1st Congressional District, a Republican-leaning area. The RNC noted that the Mobile-Pensacola media market extends into western Florida, aiming to maximize voter mobilization and media coverage across state lines.
Political analysts are closely watching Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District, where Republican Rhett Marques challenges Democratic Rep. Shomari Figures. The district boundaries were redrawn after the Supreme Court’s decision in Louisiana v. Callais led to the reinstatement of Alabama’s 2023 map, which federal courts had previously deemed discriminatory. While Figures won the seat comfortably in 2024, current ratings from the Cook Political Report and ABC News favor the Republican challenger, identifying it as a key contest for control of the House.
Looking ahead, Trump is scheduled to rally in Ohio on Saturday, targeting a competitive Senate race between incumbent Jon Husted and Democrat Sherrod Brown. He will then return to Texas for an event in San Antonio, signaling Republican concerns regarding the tight Senate race between Ken Paxton and James Talarico.
Visiting deep-red states to energize the base makes sense, but isn’t it time to focus on swing districts?
Love that he is still referencing his 2015 launch in Mobile. That historical connection seems important to him.
I’m curious how the oil prices will actually look by November. Promising relief after midterms feels risky.
The ‘close your eyes and pretend’ strategy is a fascinating, if somewhat desperate, way to boost turnout.