President Donald Trump is heading back on the campaign trail Thursday, making another stop in South Carolina as Republicans and Democrats scramble to energize voters with less than a week remaining before the November 3 midterm elections.
Trump is scheduled to headline a rally in Rock Hill, South Carolina, at 12:30 p.m. ET, where he will campaign for Republican Sen. Darline Graham in her increasingly competitive reelection race against Democrat Annie Andrews.
The president’s packed Thursday schedule also includes two evening tele-rallies and a Halloween celebration at the White House alongside First Lady Melania Trump.
Trump Returns To South Carolina For Critical Senate Race
Thursday’s rally will take place at the Rock Hill Sports & Event Center, near the North Carolina border. According to the Republican National Committee’s official event announcement, doors open at 9 a.m., with Trump’s remarks scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m.
The appearance marks Trump’s second visit to South Carolina this month and his third campaign stop in the state this year, according to South Carolina Public Radio.
The president is returning as Graham faces a closer-than-expected contest against Andrews, a pediatrician and former congressional candidate.
Local television station WCCB reported Thursday that a New York Times/Siena poll showed the two candidates tied at 48 percent, underscoring the competitiveness of a race in a state that has not elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 1998.
Trump previously campaigned for Graham in the Upstate on October 21, making Thursday’s appearance another opportunity to publicly reinforce his support for the Republican senator before voters head to the polls.
A Busy Evening Back At The White House
Following his South Carolina appearance, Trump is scheduled to return to Washington for an evening that combines White House traditions with additional campaign activity.
At 5:30 p.m. ET, the president and first lady Melania Trump will host Halloween festivities on the White House South Lawn.
The celebration will be followed by two political tele-rallies, scheduled for 7 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. ET, according to the White House’s daily guidance.
Both calls are listed as closed to the press. The published schedule does not identify which candidates or races will be featured.
The virtual appearances will allow Trump to participate in additional campaign events without making further in-person stops Thursday evening.
Trump And Vance Campaign Across The Country
While Trump campaigns in South Carolina, Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to headline a Republican rally in Weatherford, Texas, in support of Attorney General Ken Paxton’s Senate campaign against Democrat James Talarico.
The Hill reported that Trump made three trips to Texas during October to campaign for Paxton as Republicans work to maintain control of the seat.
Democrats are also deploying prominent party figures during the final stretch. Former Vice President Kamala Harris is scheduled to campaign for Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in Macon, Georgia, one day after former President Barack Obama appeared on his behalf in Atlanta.
The competing appearances illustrate the national attention surrounding several closely watched Senate contests ahead of Election Day.
More Trump Rallies Ahead Of November 3
Thursday’s stop in South Carolina is not the end of Trump’s scheduled campaign travel.
According to the president’s public calendar, Trump is expected to hold another rally Friday, October 30, at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, Florida, beginning at 7 p.m. ET.
On Saturday, October 31, he is scheduled to appear at Salina Regional Airport in Kansas, with the rally beginning at noon local time.
The series of appearances follows a busy October campaign schedule that has taken Trump across multiple states as both parties make their closing arguments to voters.
With Election Day approaching on Tuesday, November 3, the president’s remaining rallies will keep him on the campaign trail through the final weekend before Americans cast their ballots.
