Trump to Rally in Alabama and Oklahoma as Republicans Face Tough Midterms President Donald Trump will campaign in Alabama and Oklahoma, deep red states, as Republicans struggle to retain Congress in the November midterm elections. President Donald Trump is set to hold rallies in Durant, Oklahoma, on Thursday and Mobile, Alabama, on Friday, kicking off October in two of the most Republican states in the nation. The visits come as he had vowed to campaign in 35 of the most competitive battleground races in the final sprint to November's midterm elections. His choice of deep red destinations has raised eyebrows and underscored the uphill fight his party faces. Trump Rallies in Deep Red StatesTrump's events are expected to draw enthusiastic crowds of fans, projecting excitement as he tries to bolster Republican turnout. But the itinerary is a reminder of his deep unpopularity in much of the country during a campaign season he has sought to make all about himself. While organizers insist the rallies are in locations with media markets that span state lines and will help bolster broader turnout, some Republicans have been distancing themselves from the president in recent weeks.They have removed or downplayed references to Trump on their websites and increasingly voiced opposition to his unpopular war with Iran, as they try to appeal to voters beyond his Make America Great Again base. Republicans have already been pouring money into red states once considered safe as they try to shore up candidates facing an unhappy electorate that has soured on Trump and his policies.RNC and Democrats Trade BarbsThe Republican National Committee defended the strategy. RNC spokesperson Natalie Baldassarre said the president's ability to engage with and activate low-propensity voters is unmatched, and that is why he will be barnstorming the country to activate the voters needed to win in November. She promised more October rallies to come.Democrats, meanwhile, celebrated the announcement. Viet Shelton, spokesperson for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said the political floor is falling out from underneath Trump and Congressional Republicans, forcing them to scramble to spend and campaign in deep red territory in the final weeks.Key Races in Texas, Florida, and BeyondThe RNC noted that Durant, Oklahoma, is on the Texas border and next to the Dallas-Fort Worth media market, and will draw Republicans in Texas, which has emerged as one of the most critical states on the map. Scandal-plagued Attorney General Ken Paxton, whom Trump backed over incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, is locked in a tight race against Democrat James Talarico. Gov. Greg Abbott is also facing a stronger-than-expected challenger in Democrat Gina Hinojosa.Mobile is next to Florida's panhandle, a Republican stronghold where high turnout can help bolster Trump-backed candidates running for Senate and governor. However, Florida Republican Sen. Ashley Moody is not expected to attend. In Oklahoma, Trump will be stumping for Mike Mazzei, whom he backed as the Republican nominee for governor during a competitive primary. Mazzei is running against Oklahoma's Democratic House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson. Democratic Governors Association spokesperson Kevin Donohoe said in a statement that the race continues to get more competitive and national Republicans are right to be worried about Mazzei.Alabama's Political LandscapeAlabama holds deep nostalgia for Trump and his early supporters. He held his first mega-rally in Mobile more than a decade ago, drawing some 30,000 people to a college football stadium. The crowd made clear to skeptics of his campaign that he was more than a celebrity novelty. John Wahl, the Republican candidate for lieutenant governor and former chair of the Alabama Republican Party, said it is very natural that Trump would host a rally here as he is gearing up for the midterm elections.Although Republicans remain the heavy favorites in Alabama's statewide campaigns, they face a more challenging political landscape this year. Former Democratic Sen. Doug Jones is mounting a vigorous campaign for Alabama governor against one of Trump's most vocal allies, Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who said he welcomed the president's visit. Republican Rep. Barry Moore, running to replace Tuberville in the Senate with Trump's backing, said the president's rally will be the jet fuel needed to win big in Alabama.Mobile is also near Alabama's 2nd Congressional District, which leans red after its lines were redrawn but is not a slam dunk for Republicans as they try to dislodge Democratic Rep. Shomari Figures. Figures has been criticizing the president's plan to lower import tariffs on foreign beef in an appeal to cattle ranchers as he tries to fend off a challenge from his Trump-backed opponent, State Rep. Rhett Marques.