A Trump lacking popularity begins the race for the midterm elections

WashingtonOne more eccentricity from the party leader. This Wednesday and Thursday, Republican legislators and Trump supporters are gathering in Dallas (Texas) to attend the Republican convention that Donald Trump has devised to boost the party with less than two months to go before the midterm elections. But the schedule of the historic event -it is the first one the Republicans are holding for midterms- points in another direction: the American president will be the headliner and will give the main speech of the two days. Not even in Milwaukee, despite having just survived the assassination attempt in Butler, did Trump hog the microphone so much.

Far from giving air to some tight races, Trump's thirst for the spotlight could end up damaging Republican candidates. The historic peak of unpopularity that the American president is experiencing has become the main burden for the party this November. Many know it, and that is why they do not plan to stop by the covered tribute that the leader has decided to set up for himself. Between 50 and 70 candidates, mostly from swing states, have revealed to Politico and the CBS network that they do not intend to go. Some have alleged that they have other more important local events, others have alluded to personal issues, such as weddings or family events. Any excuse is good to avoid what some Republicans have already internally labeled as "Trump's party".

The complacent laughter that the president demands from his legislators has been blurring into a nervous grimace in the face of every new unilateral decision by Trump. The Iran war -which was supposed to be a four-week "excursion"- is at the top of the list, but it is not the only one. At the end of August, the Republican was back to punishing his rural base by announcing that he would import 300,000 tons of beef tariff-free in order to try to curb the price hike.

The alienation of the base

If it wasn't enough to infuriate farmers, who have been struggling for months due to the trade war, Trump also refused to disclose the origin of the meat and placed the consumer in an almost humiliating dilemma: buying the cheapest product without knowing where it comes from or what sanitary controls it has passed, or resigning themselves to paying more for some peace of mind. This summer, Trump also refused to sign a bipartisan law aimed at helping to alleviate the housing crises that Americans are suffering.

Last week, the speaker of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, denied that it could be harmful for some candidates to attend in Dallas. "It was the president's idea, and that is why he is credited for it, and rightly so," said Johnson. "I think it will be an extraordinary opportunity for us to have two nights on national television to talk about our extraordinary track record of successes." Johnson is not risking his seat on November 3rd and will attend the convention. Vice President J.D. Vance, Attorney General Todd Blanche, and former press secretary Karoline Leavitt are some of the other names already confirmed.

A few hours before the speeches begin, many Republicans hope that Trump will focus more on attacking the Democrats than on talking about himself. The main target of the American president right now is the rise of the left wing of the Democratic Party during the primary process thanks to a message focused on the cost of living. For months, the Republican has been labeling candidates of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) as a "communist threat" and other progressives, such as Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan. El-Sayed's rival for the Michigan Senate seat, Mike Rogers, will be one of the few candidates to take the stage during the convention. The Texas candidate, Ken Paxton, who is competing for the upper chamber against Democrat James Talarico, will also do so. The Presbyterian pastor from Austin has achieved a milestone unthinkable for any Democrat in recent years: turning an election in the quintessential Republican state into a competitive race.