A western swing in the final weeks
President Donald Trump held rallies in Arizona and Montana on Wednesday, the second day of a western campaign swing aimed at lifting Republican turnout before the 3 November midterm elections. The Arizona event took place in Mohave County, one of the most Republican corners of a state both parties are contesting. In Montana he campaigned in a Republican-leaning House district.
The stops followed visits earlier in the week to Ohio and Alaska. Control of both chambers of Congress is on the ballot.
Republicans retreat from some House races
With less than three weeks left, Republican outside groups have begun pulling money out of two competitive House seats, those held by Representatives Tom Kean Jr. of New Jersey and Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Iowa. The shift reflects a more defensive posture. Republicans have already trimmed their expectations in Senate races, while Democrats are raising money for candidates who looked like long shots earlier this year and trying to capitalise on Trump's low public approval.
Arizona has several competitive contests, including Governor Katie Hobbs's re-election race against Republican Representative Andy Biggs, plus a handful of House races.
A court blocks the White House press ban
A federal judge in Washington, D.C., issued a preliminary injunction late on Tuesday that blocks the administration from banning CNN, Politico and MS NOW from the White House complex while their lawsuit over access proceeds. Judge Timothy Kelly acted after the administration argued that national security concerns justified the ban. The news organisations called it viewpoint discrimination.
The White House also faced questions about its ambassador to Greece, Kimberly Guilfoyle, after a report that she sought $100,000 for herself from one of Trump's donors. The president said he was looking at firing her.
Voters interviewed at recent campaign stops said the economy, the war in Ukraine and the cost of living were their main concerns. Trump's public approval remains low in national polling, and Democrats are using that in advertising in suburban districts.