Watch live: Trump rallies support for Whatley in North Carolina

President Trump will stump for GOP Senate nominee Michael Whatley in North Carolina on Wednesday evening, seeking to rally support for the former Republican National Committee chair.

Whatley is running against former Gov. Roy Cooper (D) for the seat currently held by Sen. Thom Tillis (R), who will retire at the end of the term. The event marks Trump’s first campaign stop since last week’s GOP midterm convention , as Republicans fight to maintain their control of Congress next year.

Recent polling shows Cooper leading Whatley by double digits — 49 percent to 38 percent — among likely voters in the Tar Heel State. While the president won North Carolina in his three presidential elections, the same Elon poll found more than half of respondents disapprove of his job performance as affordability ranks high for voters in the state.

The campaign event in Gastonia, N.C., is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. EDT.