President Trump says Kansans “can’t do better” than Republican Sen. Roger Marshall, hoping to lift the incumbent in a race that’s much closer than the GOP wanted.
Mr. Trump said farmers, in particular, would benefit from Mr. Marshall’s influence in Washington.
“If you like farmers, you better have Roger,” Mr. Trump told radio host Pete Mundo in the Kansas City metro area on Friday. “He’s just fantastic. He loves Kansas.”
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Mr. Marshall, a physician, is seeking a second term against Democratic challenger Adam Hamilton, a Methodist pastor. Polls say the race is deadlocked in a state Mr. Trump carried by 16 percentage points in 2024.
“I just want to make sure he’s in good shape,” Mr. Trump said of Mr. Marshall. “This man is respected by everyone in Washington.”
Democrats are seeking a net gain of four seats to retake the Senate majority.
Forecasters say Democrats have a better shot at seizing the House, but incumbent GOP senators face tough reelection battles, including Susan Collins of Maine, Jon Husted of Ohio and Dan Sullivan of Alaska.
The president latched onto reports that Democrats were heavily involved in recruiting a second man named Dan Sullivan to try to siphon votes away from the Alaska incumbent.
“I think it’s a criminal act,” Mr. Trump said.
Republicans are trying to pick up Senate seats in some states, notably Michigan.
Democrats are pointing to affordability issues, including stubborn inflation and high energy prices from the Iran war, in their bid for a “blue wave.”
Mr. Trump said he inherited high inflation from the Biden administration and will get it under control. He also said he would deal with Tehran and its nuclear ambitions after the election.
“It’s gonna get wrapped up soon,” Mr. Trump told Mr. Mundo.
Mr. Trump said Iran effectively started the war with its Islamic revolution in 1979.
“They’ve been absolutely horrible to the world,” Mr. Trump said.
Speaking about Kansas, Mr. Trump called Mr. Hamilton a “radical” who would break his vow to reject Sen. Charles E. Schumer of New York as the Democratic leader.
A CNN/SSRS poll conducted Oct. 20-26 found Mr. Hamilton leading Mr. Marshall by four percentage points among likely voters, with 49% supporting the Democrat and 45% supporting the Republican.
Other polls show a closer contest.
Mr. Trump canceled a planned rally in Kansas on Saturday, opting for a virtual tele-rally instead.
Mr. Trump is expected to host more than two dozen tele-rallies in New York, Texas, Kansas, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Michigan and elsewhere in the days before Tuesday’s midterms.
Jeff Mordock contributed to this report.
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