VANDALIA, Ohio — President Donald Trump rallied Saturday for Republicans in Ohio’s competitive races for Senate and governor, predicting that the party will defy expectations in a choppy midterm election climate.“I think we’re going to have a big surprise, because they don’t know what’s happening,” Trump said while speaking onstage inside a high school gymnasium near Dayton.“Just get out and vote,” Trump added.“If you do that, we’re going to win, and we’re going to win big.
And we’re going to shove it up their ass.”The visit, part of what White House officials have told NBC News will be a push through at least 17 states between now and Nov.3, was aimed at boosting incumbent Sen.
Jon Husted and Vivek Ramaswamy, the GOP nominee for governor.Trump, who won Ohio three times by comfortable margins, opened his speech with praise for both before moving into broader remarks to promote himself and his administration.
He also offered support for local Rep.Mike Turner and for several House candidates in attendance, including Derek Merrin, the Republican running against longtime Democratic Rep.
Marcy Kaptur in northwest Ohio.Husted’s bid to keep the Senate seat — which he was appointed to after JD Vance was elected vice president — has in particular become a subject of concern among Republicans in Ohio and Washington.In August, the National Republican Senatorial Committee warned in a memo that Husted’s past enthusiasm for building data centers was hurting his campaign.
Others have expressed worries that Husted, who has long wanted to be governor, has not put his full heart into the race.The battle is one of the most expensive and competitive Senate races in the country this fall.Along with a handful of other key contests, the clash between Husted and Brown could determine partisan control of the chamber.
This week, Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC affiliated with Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota, poured another $14 m...