Trump extends red state midterm tour to Nebraska

The Republican National Committee announced Tuesday that President Trump will headline a rally in Nebraska, marking the latest stop in his upcoming swing of red states over the next week.

Trump will make a stop in the city of Grand Island, located in central Nebraska. The state, known as a red stronghold, is home to Senate and gubernatorial races this year.

The nonpartisan election handicapper Cook Political Report rates the Senate contest as “likely” Republican and the gubernatorial contest “solid” Republican. However, the state’s Senate race has received more attention as rising energy prices under the Trump administration threaten Republicans in agriculture-centric states.

Decision Desk HQ gives incumbent Sen. Pete Ricketts an 81 percent chance of beating independent Dan Osbourne in the Senate race.

The president’s stop in Nebraska is the latest campaign stop in a red state roughly a month out from the midterms. On Thursday, Trump will headline a rally in Durant, Okla. after making a stop at a truck factory in Texas. Trump will then campaign in Mobile, Ala. on Friday before heading to Vandalia, Oh. on Saturday.

Ohio and Texas both have contested Senate and gubernatorial races in November, but Trump’s moves to visit safely red Alabama and Oklahoma so close to an election have raised eyebrows.

A Republican source told The Hill that the decision for Trump to travel to the red states was not indicative that the races are competitive, instead pointing to the Oklahoma and Alabama rallies’ proximity to the Texas and Florida media markets.

Trump announced earlier this month that he would visit 35 competitive races in 30 days ahead of the midterms.