Trump Stumps in Mississippi, Third Rally in Four Days to Galvanize Voter Base

SOUTHAVEN, Miss.—In his third rally in just four days, President Donald Trump headed to Southaven, Mississippi on Oct. 2, to stump for Republicans Cindy Hyde-Smith, who is seeking a retain her Senate seat in a special election, and Sen. Roger Frederick Wicker, who is up for reelection.

Republicans currently hold slim majorities in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Just yesterday, Trump was in Tennessee supporting GOP candidates after signing a three-way trade deal with Canada and Mexico that will replace the NAFTA agreement.

The president’s campaign blitz comes amid a week-long supplementary investigation into the sexual misconduct claims against Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said during a Senate floor speech that the vote for Kavanaugh’s nomination will be held this week, adding that “the time for endless delay and obstruction has come to a close.”

Hot on the campaign trail, Trump aimed to galvanize his supporters in the Magnolia state, as he once again made remarks lambasting the Democrats for their policies, and most recently for their conduct during Kavanaugh’s committee hearings.

“They want to get the power they so desperately crave that was taken away from them. They only know how to obstruct and demolish,” he told the crowd at the Landers Center.

“There is nothing Democrats aren’t willing to do and you’re seeing it day by day, and you’re seeing it more this week than you’ve seen it before.”

Trump said the Democrats are too “dangerous” to trust with power and urged his supporters to get out and vote Republican.

“Pretend I’m on the ballot,” he added.

Hyde-Smith will face a tough battle against four other candidates in Mississippi’s “jungle primary,” including Democrat candidate Mike Espy. She was appointed by Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Senator Thad Cochran, who retired in April this year.

Trump touted Hyde-Smith’s 100 percent voting record with his administration.

“Since arriving in U.S. Senate, Cindy has voted with me 100 percent of the time. Cindy always has my back, which means she always has your back,” Trump said in prepared remarks for the rally. “She supported our campaign early, and has worked closely with us to protect our wonderful Mississippi farmers.”

Trump introduced her as “a true Mississippi patriot” as he invited her up to speak.

In her speech, Hyde-Smith mentioned Trump’s support for the armed services.

“He loves the veterans, he loves our military, and he loves our law enforcement as well,” she said, before mentioning that two police officers in her hometown were shot and killed this past weekend.

She closed by saying that Republicans have a lot of work to do in Washington. “We’ve got a Supreme Court justice to get confirmed! I’m going to ask for your prayers for the Kavanaugh family.”

If none of the candidates in the special election race receive over 50 percent of the vote, the two with the highest number of votes will advance to another special election. The winner will serve the remaining term of retired Sen. Thad Cochran, which finishes in 2021.

Trump said a vote for Espy, one of Hyde-Smith’s opponents, would further the Democrat’s “far-left” legislation. He described how “gridlock and chaos” would be the result if the Democrats took control of Congress.

“A vote for Cindy’s opponent, Mike Espy, is a vote for Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi, and the legendary low-IQ Maxine Waters. That why Chuck Schumer’s PAC is funding Mike Espy with a lot of money,” he said.

“When Espy was in Congress, he even sponsored legislation alongside Nancy Pelosi to provide taxpayer-funded healthcare to illegal aliens.”

Hyde-Smith won numerous awards and honors for her work as a state legislator, where she served for 12 years before being elected Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce, and as a champion of agriculture, according to her biography.

Epsy is a former congressman who served on the House Budget Committee. According to his biography, he has spent the last 25 years working in the private and non-profit sectors in homeownership and asset development.

Meanwhile, in the other Senate race, Sen. Wicker will face Democrat candidate David Baria.