Republicans, touting Trump, attack Democrats as ‘dangerous, radical and weird’
DALLAS, Sept 9 (Reuters) - Republicans opened their unusual midterm convention on Wednesday with plenty of praise for Donald Trump and scathing attacks on "dangerous" Democrats, placing a risky bet that the president's brand can energize core backers despite his broad unpopularity.
The Republican National Convention in Dallas began on September 9, with a strong emphasis on praising President Donald Trump and harshly criticizing Democrats. The two-day event, which features Trump delivering primetime addresses on both evenings, underscores the GOP's reliance on the president's support as they prepare for the November midterm elections.
The gathering in the 21,000-seat arena drew sparse attendance, with empty upper rows and sparsely filled side seats. Several Republican candidates facing difficult elections chose not to attend, including Michigan Representative Tom Barrett, Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan, and Maine Senator Susan Collins. However, at least 16 candidates in competitive House and Senate races were scheduled to speak, including Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Ohio Senator Jon Husted.
The convention's focus on Trump and attacks on Democrats on issues like transgender women in sports and border security has raised questions about whether it will resonate with swing voters who have become increasingly frustrated with the economy. Democrats portrayed themselves as socialists and communists, echoing Trump's attack lines following democratic socialists' victories in Democratic primary elections.
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