Trump approval stays near record low as Republicans face midterm vote

President Donald Trump approached the November 3 United States midterm elections with his job approval close to a record low, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll. The survey found that 32 percent of respondents approved of his performance as president, a rise of 1 percentage point from two weeks earlier.

The poll also showed Republicans trailing Democrats when respondents were asked which party they would support in a contest between generic candidates. Democrats were preferred by 46 percent, while Republicans drew 38 percent. Trump's party is seeking to retain its control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Although Trump is not a candidate in these elections, he has repeatedly urged supporters to approach the vote as though his own name were on the ballot. He has also warned that losing Republican control of Congress could lead Democrats to pursue a third impeachment against him.

Polling suggests his approval has declined steadily, particularly since the US-Israel war on Iran began on February 28. The conflict has pushed up petrol and diesel prices, with further effects on American consumers already concerned about inflation and the economy.

Seeking to strengthen support for Republican candidates, Trump spent nearly a month campaigning before the midterms. He concluded that effort on Monday afternoon, November 2, with a rally beside the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, DC. The location has received considerable attention from the president as part of his plans to renovate the capital.

Work on the pool finished months behind schedule and cost more than 10 times the initial estimate. A special liner promoted by Trump began peeling shortly after installation. Speaking at the rally, he said: “It was a work of art that never worked, but now it will work.”

Much of Trump's address focused on his proposed changes to Washington. Those plans include a “Triumphal Arch”, a project that is facing legal challenges. His remarks on the capital's renovation occupied a substantial part of his final campaign appearance before the vote.

Trump also appeared to recognise that his campaigning might fall short of producing the outcome he wanted for Republicans. He described that possibility as consistent with the usual midterm experience for a sitting president. “For some reason, the sitting president doesn’t win the midterms,” he said. “But we gave this a very strong shot.”