PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) - The Latest on President Donald Trump (all times local):
8:30 p.m.
President Donald Trump is sharing the stage at a Florida rally with the state’s Republican candidates for the U.S. Senate and governor, at the same time taking swipes at their Democratic opponents.
Trump’s appearance Saturday night in Pensacola, Florida, followed a rally earlier in the day in Montana, part of a multistate sprint by the president toward Tuesday’s midterm elections.
Trump says Florida’s Democratic senator, Bill Nelson, hasn’t lobbied his White House on behalf of Florida residents. And he says the Democratic nominee for governor, Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, will ruin the state in one or two years, adding that Gillum just isn’t “equipped” to be governor.
Trump turned the stage over to the GOP nominee for the Senate, Gov. Rick Scott, and its nominee for governor, former congressman Ron DeSantis.
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7:55 p.m.
President Donald Trump is telling Florida voters that Democrats want to knock the country down “with a giant wrecking ball.”
The president is hosting a rally in Pensacola, Florida, his second of the day after a rally in Montana.
Trump is highlighting the nation’s economy, including record-low unemployment, particularly among racial minorities, and promising a tax cut focused on the middle class.
Trump is appearing in Florida to back the Republican candidate for the Senate, Gov. Rick Scott, and the GOP’s nominee for governor, Ron DeSantis.
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1:55 p.m.
President Donald Trump is pushing back on criticism that he is focusing too much on immigration rhetoric during the closing days of the election season.
Trump rallied Republicans in Montana on Saturday. He said he does also talk about economic gains, but said he can only “go for 4 or 5 minutes.” After that he said “what I do is talk about some of the problems.”
He said: “When we’re fixing a problem or fixed a problem there’s no reason to go on about it for 45 minutes.”
Trump has focused his closing midterm argument on immigration, stoking anxiety about several caravans of Central American migrants traveling to the southern border and threatening the constitutionally enshrined right of birthright citizenship.
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1:05 p.m.
President Donald Trump is playing up his feud with Democrat Jon Tester as he campaigns against the Montana senator.
Trump claims at a rally at the Bozeman airport that Tester “tried to destroy” his first choice to head his administration’s Department of Veterans Affairs.
Here’s what Trump says: “I’ve never forgotten it and it’s honestly one of the reasons I’m here so much.”
In April, Tester went public with allegations against VA nominee Ronny Jackson accusing the White House doctor of drunken behavior, overprescribing prescription drugs and fostering a hostile work environment. Jackson denied the allegations but withdrew his nomination.
Trump has repeatedly appeared in Montana for Tester’s opponent, Matt Rosendale.
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12:50 p.m.
President Donald Trump is emphasizing the booming economy as he urges supporters in Montana to back Republicans on Election Day.
Trump says at a rally at the Bozeman airport that if Republicans lose the House, “radical Democrats” will undo his efforts over the past year. Trump is citing recent job gains and his massive tax cuts.
Trump is campaigning for GOP Senate nominee Matt Rosendale who is trying to unseat the Democratic incumbent, Jon Tester. It’s Trump’s fourth visit to Montana as he works to stave off Democratic enthusiasm on Tuesday’s midterm elections.
Trump also repeated a promise for an additional tax cut, though he offered no details.
After Montana, Trump is heading to Florida for a rally in Pensacola.
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6:50 a.m.
There are two more political rallies on President Donald Trump’s schedule for Saturday - and two more on Sunday and three more on Monday.
And that’s after two on Friday.
He’s in the midst of a final sprint to Tuesday’s midterm elections, and he’ll be in Montana and Florida later Saturday to campaign for Republican candidates.
The president says in an early morning tweet that “Everyone is excited about the Jobs Numbers - 250,000 new jobs in October. Also, wages rising. Wow!”
The government reported Friday that employers added 250,000 jobs last month. Unemployment remains low and pay rose at a healthy pace.
Trump held rallies Friday in West Virginia and Indianapolis, where he stayed overnight.
Trump opened those rallies by highlighting the economic news.
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