Trump Backs Marshall in Kansas as Senate Race Tightens

Donald Trump held his first campaign rally in Kansas in eight years on 19 October, backing first-term Republican U.S. Senator Roger Marshall in a Senate contest that opinion polls show level ahead of the 3 November midterm elections.

The rally took place at the Heartland Credit Union Arena in Park City, outside Wichita, before about 5,000 supporters, according to The Guardian. Trump's speech lasted 98 minutes. He opened by saying, "I love you, Kansas, but I'm here for a guy named Roger Marshall," KCUR reported.

Marshall, 66, is an obstetrician-gynaecologist, a doctor specializing in pregnancy and women's health, and a former congressman. His Democratic challenger, Adam Hamilton, 62, is a Methodist megachurch pastor who founded the 24,000-member Church of the Resurrection. Marshall spoke ahead of Trump at the rally.

The race has drawn national attention because no Democrat has won a U.S. Senate seat in Kansas since 1932. Kansas currently has a Democratic governor, Laura Kelly, and Trump told the crowd the state was "tending toward the purple," a reference to a mix of Republican red and Democratic blue support. Polls show Marshall and Hamilton running level, while Hamilton raised $11 million in the third quarter compared with $800,000 for Marshall.

At the rally, Trump defended Marshall's record and called Hamilton a "disgrace," according to the Kansas Reflector. Marshall called Hamilton "too woke" and centered his remarks on cultural issues, including stopping "radical Islam." Trump warned that the United States will "burn" like France if Democrats win, U.S. News reported. Trump also attacked Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and Democratic Representatives Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib during the event.

Following the Kansas rally, Trump was scheduled to campaign during the week for candidates in North Carolina, CNN reported.