While past presidents have attempted to distance themselves from the midterm spotlight, President Donald Trump has urged voters to treat the Nov. 3 election with the weight of a presidential election.
“When I’m not on the ballot, we don’t do well,” Trump has said in multiple speeches over the past month as part of his nationwide campaign blitz for a GOP majority in both houses of Congress.
“In this election, I’m asking you to pretend I’m on the ballot just one more time. Because, essentially, I am.”
Historically, midterms have served as a referendum on the policies of the sitting president, giving voters an opportunity to approve and accelerate the presiding party’s agenda or put a check on the executive branch’s power….